HistoryData
sports2016

Diving at the 2016 Summer Olympics — diving events at the Olympics

January 1, 2016

China dominated diving at Rio 2016 for an eighth consecutive Games, while Great Britain won the country's first-ever Olympic diving gold.

Quick Facts

Year
2016
Category
sports

Key Facts

Events contested
8 (men's and women's springboard and platform)
Athletes competing
Up to 136
Competition dates
7–20 August 2016
Minimum athlete age
14 years old by 31 December 2016
Hydrogen peroxide added to pool
160 litres
China's consecutive Games dominating
8 consecutive Games

By the Numbers

8
Events contested
136
Athletes competing
7
Competition dates
14
Minimum athlete age

Location

Map of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilMap of Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Diving has been a core Olympic aquatic discipline for over a century, with China establishing dominance across multiple Games cycles. The 2016 Rio Olympics brought together up to 136 divers competing across eight events at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, requiring all athletes to be at least 14 years old by year's end.

Event

The diving competitions ran from 7 to 20 August 2016 at Maria Lenk Aquatic Center in Barra da Tijuca. China dominated the medal table for the eighth consecutive Games. A notable incident occurred on 9 August when the diving well turned dark green, later confirmed to be caused by 160 litres of hydrogen peroxide mistakenly added during cleaning.

Consequence

China was denied a clean sweep of diving gold medals for the fourth time in eight Games, as British pair Jack Laugher and Chris Mears won the men's synchronised 3m springboard event — Great Britain's first-ever Olympic diving gold medal, marking a historic moment for the sport in that country.

Result

China (dominant medal table leader)
vs
Great Britain (men's synchro 3m springboard gold)

at Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, Barra da Tijuca

Great Britain's first Olympic diving gold (Jack Laugher & Chris Mears, synchro 3m springboard)

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201620162013201420152017201820192016 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXXI Olympiad, in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUEFA Euro 2016 — 15th European association football championshipEurovision Song Contest 2016 — 61st Eurovision Song ContestCopa América Centenario — 2016 edition of the Copa América association football competition2016 Formula One World Championship — 67th season of Formula One motor racingJanuary 2016 — month of 2016Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics — association football played during the 2016 Olympic Summer GamesSwimming at the 2016 Summer Olympics — Swimming on summer Olympic games 2016diving-at-the-2016-summer-olympics-diving-events-at-the-ol-2016