How to Compare Olympic Springboard and Platform Diving

Olympic springboard and platform diving are very popular spectator sports. The two types have many similarities and several key differences between them. The athletes who compete in the events are all highly trained and talented divers who are exciting to watch. Both events have their own unique visual displays of acrobatics and athleticism that never fail to please a crowd.

Instructions

1. Note the board height. The springboards are 1m and 3m. The platform boards are 5m and 10m.

2. Watch for the number of dives. Women divers competing in springboard perform a total of 10 dives, while platform divers perform eight. For men, the totals are eleven for springboard and ten for platform.

3. Enjoy the acrobatics. The platform divers have a higher starting point, and therefore have more time to perform stunts than the springboard divers. The bounce in the springboard allows for a higher jump. Either way, the visual performance is amazing.

4. Look for board flexibility. Springboards, as their name suggests, are flexible planks of aluminum that allow the diver to jump higher than a fixed board. Platform boards are stationary towers that extend several feet over the water.

5. Note the similarities. Both types of diving have the same types of approaches, and have many of the same acrobatic elements. The entry for both types of diving should be clean and without splash. Both types of diving require athletes to have superior body control, flexibility, skill and talent in their respective diving specialty.