OLYMPIC HISTORY

Springboard diving was born at the 1908 Games for men and in 1912 a women's platform event was introduced, though it was not until 1920 that women took part in a springboard event. In those early days, the swallow dive, a straight plunge forward was the favoured leap. However, in the 1920s, pikes, tucks and twists became more common, resulting in dives involving somersaults.

The British "Fancy Diving" team from 1908

Sweden and Germany dominated the sport in its infancy, while the US took the lead from the late 1920s to the 1980s, when China, today's masters took over as the world's greatest diving nation.

Pat McCormick, of the US, won both women's titles in 1952 and 1956, the latter just eight months after becoming a mother. Her double double success was repeated by Greg Louganis, of the US, in 1984 and 1988. The accident in which he cracked his head on the highboard and had to receive stitches led to a tightening of safety measures after the diver revealed some time later that he had been carrying the HIV virus.

A rule change was also dictated by the success of the modern era's best woman - or girl - diver, Fu Mingxia, of China. Fu was just 12 when she became world platform champion in January 1991. That was deemed too young in such a potentially dangerous sport and a rule restricting international competition to those who either turned 14 or were older in the year of competition. Fu turned 14 only 20 days after winning the highboard title for the first time in Barcelona, 1992. She retained that title as a "veteran" of 18 in Atlanta, where she added the 3 metre springboard title to her long list of triumphs.

Historically, the US has dominated Olympic diving, winning 46 of the 75 titles to date and 125 of the total of 225 medals. China, however, is now the dominant force, with such stars as Fu and Sun Shuwei. Fu has set the standard for a generation of Chinese divers that is regarded by some as unbeatable.

Among those who are expected to make a splash this time are Yu Zhuocheng, Sun and Tian Liang among men and Xiaoqlao Liang and Xue Sang among women, all of China. Watch also for Dimitri "The Man" Sautin, European champion, Yulia Pakhalina and Olena Zhupina, from Ukraine and Myriam Boileau, of Canada. Britain has medal hopes in Tony Ali, European champion in the 3 metre springboard, and in synchronised divers Leon Taylor and Peter Waterfield, bronze medal winners at the European championships in Helsinki in June.