# 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:** 2
**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, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/21 "2008-08-21T18:15:10Z")
Just in case I might be misunderstood: I’m not saying I like all the judged sports at the expense of the non-judged sports. Far from that . I like some of the judged sports and dislike others. Just as I like some of the non-judged sports and dislike others. I like a good mix. But I realize that the Olympic Games are intended for a worldwide audience and so I’m not arrogant enough to assume that my favorite sports should be the only ones included. Ed ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/22 "2008-08-21T18:49:27Z")
I can’t believe that [Rhythmic Gymnastics](http://www.nbcolympics.com/rhythmicgymnastics/insidethissport/index.html) is still in the Olympics. I remember when it debuted in the 1984 Olympics, and it was roundly mocked even then. Until I looked it up, I haven’t heard about it since then, and figured they had dropped it. It’s just as stupid as it ever was, with the ribbon, ball, clubs, and rope (which I’ve never seen used, but can’t be good), except that for reasons unknown, they apparently don’t use one piece of equipment each cycle. I honestly can’t believe they are dumping **Softball** , but keeping this sport, along with the others mentioned, including synchronized swimming and synchronized diving. They could liven up the sport, though. Maybe have them dodge javelins during the competition or something. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/23 "2008-08-21T18:51:31Z")
[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] Ditto this. Except make it women for me… and I could skip on the suits… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/24 "2008-08-21T19:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] Why not synchronized ski jumping in the winter? [/QUOTE] Would they be coming from opposite directions? Because that would kick ass. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/25 "2008-08-21T19:09:24Z")
[QUOTE=Spartydog] …Why not have synchronized track & field? … [/QUOTE] Not in the Olympics, but they have something close at various county fairs and company picnics call the 3-legged race. Come to think of it, there’s no doubt that it’s a real sport, as opposed to some of the current Olympic “sports”. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/26 "2008-08-21T19:13:05Z")
Synchronised ping-pong…sorry, I mean table-tennis, would be tricky for the judges, but hey, what a treat for the spectator. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/27 "2008-08-21T19:15:18Z")
I want synchronized Rock Paper Scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/28 "2008-08-21T19:26:10Z")
No no no no no no you are all thinking about this the wrong way. We don’t need more synchronized events, we just need more athletes in each event! Instead of just 2 divers jumping in unison, we should have events with 3 divers, and 4 divers, and 5 divers, and 6 divers! I would limit it to 25 at once, yeah, 25 is a good number. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/29 "2008-08-21T19:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=Icarus] No no no no no no you are all thinking about this the wrong way. We don’t need more synchronized events, we just need more athletes in each event! Instead of just 2 divers jumping in unison, we should have events with 3 divers, and 4 divers, and 5 divers, and 6 divers! I would limit it to 25 at once, yeah, 25 is a good number. [/QUOTE] [It’s been done.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy6I1oXIIpw) ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/30 "2008-08-21T20:15:05Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] [It’s been done.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy6I1oXIIpw) [/QUOTE] Difficulty: 1.3 Execution: 4.5 What does that work out to for an overall? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/31 "2008-08-21T21:04:39Z")
I bet synchronized diving was invented by bored divers at practice. But to go from there to then get others convinced they should begin to compete in it. Then to convince a governing body that it should be treated as a sport. Finally convincing the Olympic Board that it should be included. I can’t picture it happening but here it is. ---
**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, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/32 "2008-08-21T21:40:08Z")
My dad competed in synchronized diving as a kid, and he’s in his 70s now, so it has been around for quite a while. I don’t know what the international governing body of diving is, but it wouldn’t have been difficult to convince them that it was a legitimate event in their sport – many of them probably had done synchronized diving themselves. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/33 "2008-08-21T21:49:30Z")
Let’s be honest here–there’s significantly more athletic skill necessary to be a synchronized swimmer than a BMX biker (I’d also argue it’s more fun to watch)–yet that’s one of the newest sports admitted to the Games. If you’re going to be purging events, you can’t replace them with something equally dubious. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/34 "2008-08-21T23:14:52Z")
I just want to see synchronized fencing. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/35 "2008-08-21T23:35:57Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Let’s be honest here–there’s significantly more athletic skill necessary to be a synchronized swimmer than a BMX biker (I’d also argue it’s more fun to watch)–yet that’s one of the newest sports admitted to the Games. If you’re going to be purging events, you can’t replace them with something equally dubious. [/QUOTE] I greatly disagree. The biggest problem for me is that it is more about synchronization than diving. To this end the OP hits it on the head. They are diving to the lowest common denominator. It makes no more sense with diving than any other event. It’s pretty but so what, the better diver has to hold back. That doesn’t scream Olympic spirit to me. ---
**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 22, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/36 "2008-08-22T00:02:15Z")
[QUOTE=suranyi] 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 [/QUOTE] I don’t watch it but that’s not the point. Anything can be turned into a sport. Why not Double Dutch or Tag Team Wrestling or marbles? Anytime a sport is criticized the knee-jerk reaction is “well, don’t watch it”. Fine, but to put some crappy sport that awards an Olympic gold metal on the same status as doing something like winning the marathon, coming in first in the 1500 meter run, winning a boxing championship or any of a multitude of other legitimate competitions that establish the best in the sport is just absurd. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/37 "2008-08-22T00:09:14Z")
In the interest of fighting ignorance… the reason that synchronized diving has been pushed by USDiving and FINA (the international governing body) is because they felt that diving wasn’t getting as much publicity as it deserved between Olympics. In their eyes, Diving should be a sport that would be on TV more often, similar to figure skating. This was around the time that ‘Extreme Sports’ were wildly popular. So in an effort to bring Diving toward the ‘Extreme’ side they pushed Synchro into national and international competitions. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/38 "2008-08-22T02:16:27Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] In the interest of fighting ignorance… the reason that synchronized diving has been pushed by USDiving and FINA (the international governing body) is because they felt that diving wasn’t getting as much publicity as it deserved between Olympics. In their eyes, Diving should be a sport that would be on TV more often, similar to figure skating. This was around the time that ‘Extreme Sports’ were wildly popular. So in an effort to bring Diving toward the ‘Extreme’ side they pushed Synchro into national and international competitions. [/QUOTE] OK, then don’t make it synchronized, make it Extreme Diving. Dive off a 20 meter platform through a flaming Hula Hoop into a kiddie pool. Perform a flawless triple somersault with a twist and a half while wearing a suit of armor. That would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/39 "2008-08-22T03:30:03Z")
I wanna see synchronised motherfucking. Yep. A whole bunch of sweaty guys fucking their mothers in a synchronised manner, that’s my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748/40 "2008-08-22T04:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] I prefer events where the winner is measured by fastest, furthest, highest, closest, or points are scored by doing one of the former. [/QUOTE] Ah, back to the basics. [_Citius, Altius, Fortius_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_motto#Motto) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synchronized-diving-why-not-synchronized-track-field/460748.md?page=3)