Diving at the 1920 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The diving programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics featured five events: men's and women's 3 metre springboard, men's and women's 10 metre platform, and men's plain high diving. The women's 3 metre springboard was a new addition to the Olympic programme. The events are labelled as 3 metre springboard, 10 metre platform and plain high diving by the International Olympic Committee, and appeared on the 1920 Official Report (dated from 1957) as plongeons variés, plongeons de haut vol variés or plongeons ordinaires, and plongeons du tremplin, respectively.

Reader's Guide

The 1920 Olympic diving competitions marked a significant expansion of women's participation with the introduction of the women's 3 metre springboard event. The men's high diving and 10 metre platform events included dives from both 10 metre and 5 metre platforms, while the women's 10 metre platform were performed from 8 metre and 4 metre platforms; the springboard events included dives from 3 metre and 1 metre springboards. A total of 53 divers from 14 nations competed, with the United States sending the largest delegation (14 divers, 7 men and 7 women), followed by Sweden (12 divers). The competitions spanned eight days in August 1920, reflecting the growing international interest in diving as an Olympic sport.

Did You Know?

• The women's 3 metre springboard competition was added to the Olympic programme for the first time at these Games.
• The women's 10 metre platform events were performed from 8 metre and 4 metre platforms.