# Synchronized diving. Why not synchronized track & field? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748 "2008-08-21T00:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/1 "2008-08-21T00:58:23Z")
Somebody clue me in as to why synchronized diving is even a sport. Yes, it looks cool but so what? Why not have synchronized track & field? Two people can run the hurdles in a synchronized manner and cross the line at the same time. Throw the javelin or the discus to land at the same distance. The synchronized pole vault would be particularly interesting. The possibilities are endless. Why not synchronized ski jumping in the winter? Who are the dumb shits that give credence to this stupidity and let it continue? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/2 "2008-08-21T02:41:57Z")
Why are any of these things a sport? Synchronized whatever, gymnastics, figure skating, fucking _ice dancing_? Sure, all these things take phenomenal athletic skill and grace and unicorn farts, but all of them come down to the completely arbitrary aesthetic decisions of sometimes corrupt judges. Now the other side of the argument is “it’s called the Olympic _Games_, numbnuts.” Which is a good point. But all that crap still bores the fuck out of me, so it’s lame. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/3 "2008-08-21T02:52:01Z")
can we just cut to the chase this time and get to the point that you were really trying to get us to think ‘outside the box’? ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/4 "2008-08-21T03:26:00Z")
And who decided that there shouldn’t be synchronized basketball in the Olympics? And synchronized soccer? ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/5 "2008-08-21T07:24:10Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] Why not have synchronized track & field? Two people can run the hurdles in a synchronized manner and cross the line at the same time. Throw the javelin or the discus to land at the same distance. The synchronized pole vault would be particularly interesting. The possibilities are endless. Why not synchronized ski jumping in the winter? [/QUOTE] I actually reckon these would all be pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/6 "2008-08-21T11:44:31Z")
I agree. Synchonized diving, synchronized swimming, etc should go the way of the dodo. Beach volleyball, however, should stay. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/7 "2008-08-21T13:38:11Z")
Let’s just pull these events from the regular Olympics, create synchronized versions of every other event, and then in the off-years we can have the SynchrOlympics. Perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/8 "2008-08-21T15:32:53Z")
I think we need synchronized dressage. I mean, we can have TWO people sitting stiffly on horses that walk funny and getting medals. ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/9 "2008-08-21T15:33:11Z")
I think it’s great that the Chinese divers (synchronized or otherwise) no longer short out when they hit the water 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/10 "2008-08-21T15:52:11Z")
I like synchronized diving. Why settle for one hot man in a tiny suit when I can have two? The _really_ stupid synchronized event is solo synchronized swimming. Think about that for a minute. Solo. Synchoniized. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/11 "2008-08-21T15:55:46Z")
There is synchronized diving for the same reason that there are relays in other sports. … I have no idea why there is synchronized swimming, however. Or rhythymic gymnastics, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/12 "2008-08-21T16:55:16Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] Somebody clue me in as to why synchronized diving is even a sport. Yes, it looks cool but so what? Why not have synchronized track & field? Two people can run the hurdles in a synchronized manner and cross the line at the same time. Throw the javelin or the discus to land at the same distance. The synchronized pole vault would be particularly interesting. The possibilities are endless. Why not synchronized ski jumping in the winter? Who are the dumb shits that give credence to this stupidity and let it continue? [/QUOTE] I’d love to see the synchronized hop, skip and jump (now called the triple jump, but I think the original name is better). They could wear sequined track suits, hold hands and do it while the speakers play, “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” I think the synchronized events should only be open to identical twins to make it even more impressive. Better yet, [Abigail and Brittany Hensel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_and_Brittany_Hensel) should enter the synchronized diving event. Legally they are two individuals since they each have a drivers’ license so they would have the advantage of two people in one body. As long as each of them was looking in the same direction and made the same facial expressions, they’d be guaranteed to win. Yeah, I’m going to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/13 "2008-08-21T17:34:06Z")
I love synchronized diving. Competitive diving is hard, and synching with another person so it comes out exactly the same is even harder. How about synchronized pole vault? I hate those swirling ribbon girls. HATE them. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/14 "2008-08-21T17:41:43Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray] There is synchronized diving for the same reason that there are relays in other sports. … I have no idea why there is synchronized swimming, however. Or **rhythymic gymnastics** , for that matter. [/QUOTE] I scanned this quickly the first time and my brain interpreted that as Rhetorical Gymnastics. That really amused me. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/15 "2008-08-21T17:48:06Z")
[QUOTE=Turek] I think we need synchronized dressage. I mean, we can have TWO people sitting stiffly on horses that walk funny and getting medals. [/QUOTE] We just went to see the Lippizzaner stallions. This is pretty much what they do, minus the medals. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/16 "2008-08-21T17:57:35Z")
If I had my way I would get rid of all events that use judges and scoring. They turn out to just be a set of “moves”, “tricks”, or “stunts”. This goes for things like sync-swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, sno-board half-pipe, etc, etc. I prefer events where the winner is measured by fastest, furthest, highest, closest, or points are scored by doing one of the former. Trick competitions were invented by people who were playing around going “can you do THIS?”, “How about this?” like a couple of kids playing horse. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/17 "2008-08-21T18:03:23Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I like synchronized diving. Why settle for one hot man in a tiny suit when I can have two? The _really_ stupid synchronized event is solo synchronized swimming. Think about that for a minute. Solo. Synchoniized. [/QUOTE] Solo synchronized swimming has not been in the Olympics for years. Ed ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/18 "2008-08-21T18:04:54Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] Somebody clue me in as to why synchronized diving is even a sport. Yes, it looks cool but so what? Why not have synchronized track & field? Two people can run the hurdles in a synchronized manner and cross the line at the same time. Throw the javelin or the discus to land at the same distance. The synchronized pole vault would be particularly interesting. The possibilities are endless. Why not synchronized ski jumping in the winter? Who are the dumb shits that give credence to this stupidity and let it continue? [/QUOTE] If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. There are many other sports in the Olympics. I’m sure you can find one that you do enjoy. That’s the great thing about the Olympics. Ed ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/19 "2008-08-21T18:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] If I had my way I would get rid of all events that use judges and scoring. They turn out to just be a set of “moves”, “tricks”, or “stunts”. This goes for things like sync-swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, sno-board half-pipe, etc, etc. I prefer events where the winner is measured by fastest, furthest, highest, closest, or points are scored by doing one of the former. Trick competitions were invented by people who were playing around going “can you do THIS?”, “How about this?” like a couple of kids playing horse. [/QUOTE] Fortunately, you don’t have your way. But you do get to choose to watch other sports that you do like. Ed ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/20 "2008-08-21T18:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] I scanned this quickly the first time and my brain interpreted that as Rhetorical Gymnastics. That really amused me. [/QUOTE] Finally, a sport that the Dopers would sweep the medals in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748.md?page=2)