Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Individual Events
Each diver competes alone, performing a prescribed number of dives from a published dive list. Preliminary rounds narrow the field to 18 (semifinal) and then 12 (final). Scores do not carry over between rounds — the final is a clean-slate competition.
4.2 Synchronized Events
A pair of divers from the same country performs the same dive simultaneously. Partners are assessed both on their individual execution and on how closely they match each other in takeoff, height, rotation speed, and entry angle. Eight pairs compete directly in a single final — no preliminaries or semifinals.
4.3 Judging Panel — Individual
Seven judges score each dive. The two highest and two lowest marks are discarded, leaving three counting scores. This trimmed-mean approach reduces the impact of outlier judging. Judges are seated at water level along one side of the pool, each with an unobstructed view of the takeoff, flight, and entry.
4.4 Judging Panel — Synchronized
Eleven judges are used: three assess execution of diver A, three assess execution of diver B, and five assess synchronization. The execution panels each drop the high and low mark (one counting score per panel). The synchronization panel drops the high and low mark (three counting scores). Synchronization judges evaluate simultaneity of takeoff, matching height and distance from the board, identical rotation speed, and coordinated entry timing.
4.5 Referee and Announcer
The referee supervises the competition, signals when the diver may proceed, and resolves disputes. The announcer calls each dive by number, position letter, and degree of difficulty before the diver approaches.