China has dominated the eight diving competitions, which are men’s and women’s three meter springboard, 10 meter platform, three meter springboard synchronized diving, and meter platform synchronized diving, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Nearly a century ago, the diving competition was added to the Olympic Games. Competitors perform a series of dives and are judged with points up to 10, depending on their elegance and skill. The points are then adjusted for the degree of difficulty based on the number and types of maneuvers attempted, such as somersaults, pikes, tucks and twists.
Competing in the diving events are 68 men and 68 women from all over the world. China has proven to be the country to beat this year. Although other countries, such as Canada, have been tough competition for them, China has won every diving event, including both synchronized and single person diving.
On August 19, 21 year old He Chong was victorious in the men’s three meter springboard competition. He amassed 572.90 points from his six final dives to clinch the title which he had looked destined to win from round one when he received four perfect 10s for his forward 3-1/2 somersaults.
Another Chinese diver who swept the gold was 16 year old, Chen Ruolin. Ruolin received four 10s, two 9.5s and one 9.0 for her last dive resulting in 100.30 points for her back 2-1/2 with 1-1/2 twists. Ruolin also competed in and won women’s 10 meter platform synchronized diving with her partner, Xin Wang, who won the bronze medal in the women’s three meter springboard competition. The pair had a final score of 363.54 on August 12.
China has established themselves as strong, prevailing divers for all the world to see. Every diving competition in the Olympics has been won by a Chinese diver. Both men and women have won by a great deal of points, typically ranging from 20 to 40 ahead of the silver medalist. No matter if the gold medalists of the diving competitions are men, women, 16 or 21 they have triumphed over their competitors in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
