Revealed: Why Olympic divers shower after every plunge at Paris 2024 – and there’s an exact science behind it

Divers competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will take a shower after every plunge into the water – and the reason why is based on an exact science.

After each dive, athletes will climb out of the pool and immediately stand underneath a hot shower, a habit that has left TV viewers raising their eyebrows.

But the reality is that they are seeking to protect their body.

By showering at searing temperatures, divers are helping to keep their muscles relaxed and loose before they next take to the water.

Given their profession sees them perform several challenging moves over the course of several hours, they run the risk of suffering injuries due to sudden movements.

Athletes take to the hot water to protect their muscles in a bid to avoid injury mid-competition

Simply by showering for a brief period, divers are drastically minimising the risk of being affected by cramp or pulling a muscle when they are stood on the board.

Crucially, they are also able to wash chlorine from the pool water off their skin, preventing them from accidentally irritating their eyes before competing.

Divers can also be spotted taking a quick dip in a hot tub between dives. Again, this has similar benefits with the warm water preventing their muscles from tensing up.

As with every edition of the Games, divers are scored by a panel of judges examining how aesthetically pleasing their movements are, the difficult of the dive and their entry into the water. In synchronised events, divers must match their actions.

Diving was first introduced at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis and has featured in every installment since. The women’s competition made its debut in 1912.

Synchronised diving, meanwhile, featured for the first time in 2000.

Team GB’s best-known diver is superstar Tom Daley, an Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion currently gearing up for his fifth Games.