Despite only being an optional sport at the Commonwealths, diving has appeared at every edition of the Games since the first British Empire Games in 1930.
Both men and women will compete in a range of events, from the 1m springboard to the synchronised 10m platform pairs.
One of the most visually spectacular sports on show at the Commonwealths, diving continues to grow in popularity in Great Britain, demonstrated by the 15.9m people who tuned in to watch Tom Daley win bronze at London 2012.
WHEN?
The diving happens from July 30-August 2 and medals will be decided on every day of competition, with the men's 1m springboard the first gold medal handed out.
WHERE?
Glasgow is not hosting the diving - instead the athletes will head to the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, which has previous experience hosting the Games - both in 1970 and 1986. It's been updated and renovated and brought up to the standard where it can host world-class events.
WHO?
Three countries have traditionally dominated Commonwealth diving - Australia, Canada and England. Canada topped the table last time out with five gold medals, but three of these were won by the now retired Alexandre Despatie - will the younger divers continue the Canadians' fine pedigree in diving?
They will be boosted by Jennifer Abel once again competing - she won the other two golds in Delhi, in both singles and synchro competitions. 10m synchro pair Roseline Fitton and Meaghan Benefito will also be looking to add to their Commonwealth medal collection, after taking bronze in Melbourne eight years ago.
Olympic champion and four time Commonwealth silver medallist Matthew Mitcham leads the Australian contingent in Edinburgh this summer. 10m synchro champion Melissa Wu also returns, with 15-year-old Georgia Sheehan making her senior team debut.
To say England are a one-man team is wrong, there is real strength in depth. Double Commonwealth champion Daley does return and is likely to be one of the stars of the Games again, but the English will be disappointed if they don't improve on the two medals they won in Delhi.
Chris Mears and Jack Laugher head in to the tournament as the leading Commonwealth pairing in the 3m synchro having placed fifth in the World Cup in Shanghai, with Laugher also taking individual bronze in the same event.
Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow are also expected to do well in the 10m synchro, but face tough competition from Australia, Canada and Malaysia's pairs, who all finished ahead of the English pair in Shanghai earlier this week.
Yona Knight-Wisdom is also set to become Jamaica's first ever diver to compete at the Games.
LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...
- Dives are taken from one of three heights - 1m or 3m on the springboard, or 10m on the platform
- The single events feature qualifiers with the top 12 advancing to the final. The synchro events are just finals.
- Points are earned for two elements of a dive - the execution and the difficulty of the dive. A panel of judges hand out the marks.
- Style is important - every diver is aiming for the coveted 'rip entry' into the water - with minimal splash. Belly flops are not cool.
- Zimbabwe, no longer a Commonwealth member, were the last country other than the big three and Malaysia to medal at the Games - way back in 1998 when Evan Stewart won gold in the 1m springboard.
Sadly not. For the latest on which tickets are left - including badminton and weightlifting - see here
 |
| Can England's Jack Laugher repeat his World Cup medal success? (zimbio.com) |
No comments:
Post a Comment