There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a diver plunging from way above, flipping in the air, only to land in the water with nary a splash. It’s no wonder diving does great television ratings during the Olympics. (www.infoplease.com/diving). Despite 2023 not being an Olympic year, there is still a full slate of diving competitions lined up.
Despite its popularity, competitive diving really isn’t that old – it is thought to have originated competitively in England in the 1880s (although it’s been practiced since ancient times. It first became a men’s Olympic sport in 1908, and four years later for women.
Diving is currently governed by FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natatio – which translates to International Swimming Federation in English). Rules and regulations are available on FINA’s site right here: http://www.fina.org/content/fina-rules-regulations
The United States have dominated diving in the Olympics, as their 138 total medals doubles China, who is in second place. The most decorated male diver, and probably the most famous, is American Greg Louganis, who pulled in four gold and a silver medal in his career. He also is the author of the sport’s biggest controversy, as he hit his head on the board and bled in the pool at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The controversy stemmed from the fact he was HIV-positive at the time and hadn’t disclosed it. Luckily, it caused no one else any harm.
On the female side, China’s Wu Minxia leads the way with seven total medals (five gold, one silver, one bronze).
Here’s the upcoming schedule for 2023, from fina.org/discipline/diving/calendar.
Diving and Water events 2023
Mar 08 – 14
Men’s Water Polo World Cup, Division 1
Mar 16 – 18
World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup – Markham 2023
Canada, Markham
April 2023
Apr 11 – 21
Women’s Water Polo World Cup, Division 1
Apr 14 – 16
World Aquatics Diving World Cup – Xi’an 2023
People’s Republic of China, Xi’an
May 2023
May 01 – 07
Water Polo World Cup, Division 2 Qualifier – Berlin (GER)
Germany, Berlin
May 01 – 07
Water Polo World Cup, Division 2 Qualifier – Berlin (GER)
Germany, Berlin
May 05 – 07
World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup – Montpellier 2023
France, Montpellier
May 05 – 07
World Aquatics Diving World Cup – Montreal 2023
Canada, Montreal
May 08 – 09
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup – Hurghada 2023
Egypt, Soma Bay
May 12 – 15
World Aquatics Beach Games Beach Water Polo Qualification Tournament – Soma Bay 2023
Egypt, Soma Bay
May 13 – 15
World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup – Cairo 2023
Egypt, Soma Bay
May 20 – 21
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup – Golfo Aranci 2023
Italy, Golfo Aranci
May 26 – 27
World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2023
United States of America, Fort Lauderdale
May 27 – 28
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup – Setubal 2023
Portugal, Setubal
June 2023
Jun 02 – 04
World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup – Oviedo 2023 – Super Final
Spain, Oviedo
Jun 10 – 17
World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships – Otopeni/Bucharest 2023
Romania, Otopeni/Bucharest
Jun 23 – 25
Women’s Water Polo World Cup Final 2023 – Long Beach (USA)
United States of America, Long Beach
Jun 30 – Jul 02
Men’s Water Polo World Cup Final 2023 – Los Angeles (USA)
United States of America, Los Angeles
July 2023
Jun 30 – Jul 02
Men’s Water Polo World Cup Final – Los Angeles (USA)
United States of America, Los Angeles
Jul 14 – 30
World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023
Japan, Fukuoka
August 2023
Aug 02 – 11
World Aquatics Masters Championships – Kyushu 2023
Japan, Kyushu
Aug 04 – 06
World Aquatics Diving World Cup – Berlin 2023 – Super Final
Germany, Berlin
Aug 05 – 06
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup – Paris 2023
France, Paris
Aug 30 – Sep 03
World Aquatics Youth Artistic Swimming Championships – Athens 2023
Greece, Athens
September 2023
Aug 30 – Sep 03
World Aquatics Youth Artistic Swimming Championships – Athens 2023
Greece, Athens
Sep 04 – 09
World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships – Netanya 2023
Israel, Netanya
Sep 08 – 15
World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championships – Coimbra 2023
Portugal, Coimbra
October 2023
Oct 06 – 08
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 Meet 1
Germany, Berlin
Oct 13 – 15
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 Meet 2
Greece, Athens
Oct 20 – 22
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 Meet 3
HUNHUN, Hungary, Budapest
December 2023
Dec 01 – 02
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2023 Meet 5
Eilat, Isreal
Where to watch Diving online?
The best place to watch these events in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or anywhere in the world, is the FINA website: https://www.finatv.live/en.FINA TV is also available via app form so you can watch on any device. If you unable to watch the events live, you can also check out the results as they happen on FINA’s website. http://fina.org/latest-results
Where to bet on diving?
You’re probably wondering, ‘Can I bet on diving?’. Why, of course you can – you can bet on anything you can imagine! Check out the odds at Betfair: www.betfair.com/sport/diving or William Hill or Ladbrokes: www.ladbrokes.com.au/sports/diving. While Betfair and William Hill are available, and legal, for United States’ citizens, unfortunately Ladbrokes is not.
Photo by Janis Karkossa
