Synchronised Diving Events

Synchronised diving displays the incredible coordination and harmony between diving pairs performing the dives simultaneously from a springboard or a platform.

The synchronised events featured two categories: synchronised 3m springboard and synchronised 10m platform, for both men and women. The scoring system evaluates the dive's execution, synchronisation, and overall impression, ensuring a comprehensive performance assessment.

Image Source: Jules Bouyer and Alexis Jandard of France on their way to silver in the Men's Synchronised 3m Springboard final during the International Open Diving Championships in the Paris 2024 Olympic Aquatic Centre (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

"Over the years, synchronised diving events have significantly improved as more countries participate, and the difficulty of dives increased,” said Bashar Alsaffar, World Aquatics Diving Technical Committee Chairperson. “Divers worldwide now specialise in synchro events, with dedicated training and preparations that have evolved considerably. This has raised the bar, pushing the sport to new heights of excellence and competitiveness."

Image Source: Ni Xiong and Hailing Xiao of China on their way to gold in the Men's Synchronised 3m Diving Final at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (Ezra Shaw /Allsport)

The Sydney 2000 Games marked a turning point for synchronised diving as these events debuted on the Olympic sports programme. The inclusion of synchro events added a new layer of excitement and complexity to the diving competitions. It has also broadened the scope of the sport, providing divers with new opportunities to compete and excel.

Mixed Synchronised Diving Events

Image Source: Meaghan Benfeito and Vincent Riendeau of Canada compete in the Mixed 10m Synchro Platform final at the Diving World Series 2017 (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

The mixed synchronised diving event, commonly referred to on the diving pool deck as mixed synchro, pairs one male and one female diver to perform synchronised dives from either the 3m springboard or the 10m platform.

Image Source: Silke Kerkhofs and Bjorn Claes of Belgium compete in the Synchro Mixed Platform Final during the Senet Diving Cup (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

 "This event was introduced to promote gender equality and inclusivity within the sport, highlighting the seamless cooperation and adaptability between male and female athletes. The mixed-gender aspect of the event has been well-received, as it highlights the spirit of unity and mutual support."

Team Diving Event

Image Source: Domonic Bedggood and Cassiel Rousseau of Team Australia (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

"The diving team event is the latest addition introduced to foster greater inclusivity and teamwork spirit, bringing a fresh and exciting dimension to a traditionally individualistic sport."

Image Source: Thomas Daley and Noah Williams of Team Great Britain (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The diving team event features mixed-gender teams comprising two to four divers on each team, who must perform mixed synchro dives and a series of individual dives across the different dive categories. The event includes dives from the 3m springboard and the 10m platform, with teams strategically selecting divers for each round. The combined scores from all dives determine the overall team performance, emphasising individual excellence and team strategy.

"Everyone expressed excitement about the team event because it is compatible and adaptable, allowing teams from the same country to blend mixed synchronised and individual dives into a cohesive team effort, developing a greater sense of community within national teams," said Alsaffar. "Non-Olympic diving events, such as mixed synchro and team events, need to be included in the Olympic Games diving programme. Still, the future looks promising for these two events as they continue to evolve and be promoted at World Aquatics events." 

When to Watch the Synchronised Diving Events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Image Source: Kseniia Bailo and Sofia Esman of Ukraine compete in the Women's Synchronized 10m Platform Final on the World Aquatics Diving World Cup (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
  • Women's Synchronised 3m Springboard Final on 27 July
  • Men's Synchronised 10m Platform Final on 29 July
  • Women's Synchronised 10m Platform Final on 31 July
  • Men's Synchronised 3m Springboard Final on 2 August