In spite of the fact that they are already wet, divers frequently exit the water after a dive and take a quick shower by the poolside. Even though they will get wet again on their next dive, they use tiny towels to dry themselves off.
“Why do divers rinse off after every dive?” has been one of the top The Olympics have been the subject of previous Google searches.
We asked Jacob Brehmer, the diving coach for Ball State University in Indiana, for some explanations as the platform diving competitions continued this week.
Why Do Olympic Divers Shower?
Divers typically crawl out of the pool and head for the shower after stunning you with their graceful twisting and turning through a three-story fall. If you have previously visited a public pool, showering may be required before entering the water but not after. You might wonder why divers take a shower after exiting the pool as a result of this. Divers are skilled athletes who understand the value of this sport.
Muscles
Divers take a shower after exiting the water to keep their muscles warm, according to Chinese Olympic champion Tian Liang. Pool water and ambient air typically have different temperatures. When compared to the air, which is typically between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the pool is about 80 degrees. On the other hand, the American Red Cross advises a pool temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit for competitive swimming. Divers must maintain a constant body temperature because they are frequently in and out of the water. Muscle tightness may result from an abrupt change in body temperature.
Skin
To remove chlorine from their skin and hair after exiting the pool, divers take a shower. Higher concentrations of chlorine can irritate your eyes and dehydrate your skin and hair, even though your skin is resilient enough that weak chlorine in water won’t hurt you. Furthermore, melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, can be brought on by frequently swimming in chlorinated water, according to PubMed Health. Chlorine has negative health effects in addition to making your skin feel sticky and less gliding. Divers want as little friction on their body as possible so they can flip, spin, and enter the water with ease.
Relax
Divers stand under a hot shower after a dive in competitions because it is soothing. Divers use a warm shower or hot tub to stay warm and unwind in a sport where you are only active for a very brief period of time. Divers need to feel comfortable before their next dive, in addition to the health benefits of showering when they exit the pool. The mental fortitude you gain from taking a hot shower increases and it mentally readies you for the next dive.
Expert View
If you dive, staying in the hot shower for an extended period of time may cause your core temperature to rise above what is ideal for diving. Showering in ice-cold water can quickly lock some of your muscles, making it difficult to use them effectively for a while. Your body loses heat 32 times more quickly in cold water than it does in cold air, according to the U.S. Search and Rescue Task Force. Muscle cramps can be prevented by warming up during breaks.
How About Hot Tub?
For Olympic divers, the hot tub serves a similar function.
It keeps the competitors’ muscles loose and relaxed before their turn on the board to stay in the hot tub between dives.
The hot tub helps divers avoid muscle tension and cramping because arenas are frequently air-conditioned, another factor that can affect their performance.
In addition to Tom Daly and Daniel Goodfellow, who won bronze in the ten-meter synchro event at Rio 2016, Team GB has named a twelve-member diving squad for Tokyo 2020.
Also included is Jack Laugher, who five years ago won the silver medal in the individual three-meter springboard and is currently the Olympic Champion in the three-meter synchro.
Why Are Olympic Divers Wearing Tape?
Divers and other athletes may have worn tape during the Olympics, but it wasn’t ordinary tape.
Kinesio tape is a flexible type that aids in pain management for athletes.
Olympic divers perform astounding acrobatics into deep pools at high velocity, and maintaining a healthy body of muscle is essential to their success.
Any strain on a muscle’s ability to move can have disastrous effects. Another justification for why some divers cover their shoulders, backs, and knees with tape is because of this.
It’s like the athletic tape that tennis players, beach volleyball players, and other athletes wear.
The tape facilitates fluid movement through the body, which lessens swelling and eases joint and muscle pain.
It was created in the 1970s by the Japanese chiropractor Dr. Kenso Kase and is also well-liked by rugby and football players.
Why Do Olympic Divers Use A Shower And Tape?
During Olympic diving competitions like the three-meter springboard dive, divers are frequently spotted wearing an unusual type of tan tape on their wrists or joints.
This tape, also known as “k tape” or “kinesiology therapeutic tape,” is a specialized type that divers wear on areas that can hit the water at high velocity during dives to reduce the likelihood of swelling and help maintain mobility. It is used to relieve pain in joints, ligaments, and muscles.
In order to keep their muscles at a healthy, constant temperature when diving into cold water in diving pools, Olympic divers will shower after each dive.
Divers will take a shower in between each dive since the water temperature varies between cold and warm, reducing the risk of muscles cramping up or becoming strained.
Read More: How Deep Is the Olympic Diving Pool – Olympic Pool
Why Olympic Divers Use Tiny Towels？
Using tiny towels called chamois, which are pronounced “shammy,” is another reason swimmers and divers do so at big events.
Brehmer claims that because the towels are lightweight and highly water-absorbent, the divers can dry off quickly and maintain their body temperature.
Staying dry also results in safer, more exciting dives.
They hold on to their legs tightly as the divers flip through the air while clinging to them. The likelihood increases if their legs are wet… their hands will slip off their legs and they will come out of the dive early — which could result in injury and almost always lower scores.
Why Is The Pool Sprayed With Water?
So that the divers can actually see the surface, water is sprayed onto the swimming pool.
They can only see the pool floor from where they are standing because the diving board is 10 meters up.
The divers can judge the distance more precisely and ensure they enter the water at a safe angle thanks to the ripples the spray creates.
When divers hit the surface at a speed of about 35 mph, they can sustain serious injuries if they enter the water at an awkward angle.
Other safety measures include setting minimum and maximum pool depths for optimal water pressure and using a device called a “bubbler” to pump compressed air bubbles from the pool floor to soften the impact of divers on the water.
