Date: 11th November 2014
Location: Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre
Cost: £6.00
Rules: Diving is the sport of diving or falling into the water from a platform or springboard. It requires poise and courage. During the fall, athletes can perform a number of spins, flips and twists before hitting the water at speeds up to 55mph, with as little disturbance as possible. Each dive has an assigned degree of difficulty, upon which their score is based, along with the ease displayed by the athletes. The Springboards are 3 metres high, and their flexibility is fully adjustable. Women must compete five dives, with at least one dive from each category; Forward, Back, Reverse, Inward and Twisting.
The Event:
Olympic Gold Medal London 2012: Wu Minxia, China
Comments:
Sarah: This is one of the most terrifying things I've ever done. I'm a confident swimmer, have no fear of the water, or heights; but, standing up on the 3m board looking down into the water filled me with utter fear. The most annoying thing is; it looks really easy! It doesn't even look that high, does it? It really, really, is though! We went for two sessions, and I tried every trick I could think of to get me off the board- including building my confidence diving from the 1m springboards and even climbing to the top of the 10m Platform and looking down, in the hope that when returning to the 3m boards, the distance would seem nothing in comparison. Technically, the 'dive' I completed does qualify as a proper dive, but I'm so annoyed at myself for not being able to get over my mental block and force myself in arms-first. Look at Ellie though! It was incredible when she did it! Since we started our challenge, the most common response from people has been "what, even the 10m dive?!", and we've always replied "yes! of course!". I'm now on the side of the doubters about that event!
Ellie: The only way I could do this dive was to actually over-balance. I had to lean over until I fell off and then it was all okay. The hardest part of it was working up the courage to 'dive' off, once I was falling I felt quite safe. That all being said I couldn't go up and do it again. It's such an odd sensation - your brain is telling you to jump, that it's safe and you'll be fine but it was almost an uncontrollable physical reaction.
I'm sure if I'd been 20 years younger I'd have had no issues at all which is infuriating! Of all the sports I've had problems with this is the one I'd like to master... I definitely agree with Sarah though, I doubt I'll ever be able to overbalance myself off the 10m board.
I'm sure if I'd been 20 years younger I'd have had no issues at all which is infuriating! Of all the sports I've had problems with this is the one I'd like to master... I definitely agree with Sarah though, I doubt I'll ever be able to overbalance myself off the 10m board.
No comments:
Post a Comment