Diving is not considered to be a separate sport by the organizing body of world aquatics, Fédération internationale de natation (FINA). FINA contests five disciplines of aquatic competition – swimming, diving, artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming), marathon (open-water) swimming, and water polo. FINA was formed on 19 July 1908 in London and has 209 affiliated nations as of 2022.
Diving contests are known to have been held in the 19th century, although the sport is relatively modern. It was held at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, and its appearance on the Olympic Program has been continuous since that time. Diving has been contested in two basic events at the Olympics – 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform, with both men and women contesting both events. Four new diving events were added to the Olympic Program for 2000, the first change to the diving program since 1924. These were two-person synchronized diving competitions for men and women on both platform and springboard. FINA also contests mixed synchronized events at the World Aquatics Championships.
At the World Championships, men and women have competed in high diving events since 2013, with 27 metres for men and 20 metres for women. FINA has petitioned to have this discipline added to the Olympic Program but without success through 2022.
The United States dominated the sport of diving until the 1990s, perhaps more than any sport has been dominated in the Olympics. In the late 1980s, the Chinese entered diving competition and posed the first serious threat to this dominance. While the United States’ Greg Louganis, considered the greatest diver ever, was still competing, the Chinese men posted few victories. But the Chinese men and women have been formidable since 1990. Through 2022, the USA has won 138 medals and 48 gold medals, while China has won 81 medals and 47 gold medals, being now only one gold medal away from the USA.
Louganis still leads the men’s competition gold score, with four golds and one silver. Russian Dmitry Sautin has won the most medals on the men’s side, with eight medals and two golds. On the women’s side, Chinese Wu Minxia and Chen Ruolin lead the tally, each with five gold medals. Minxia is also the female diver with the most medals, with seven.