How does a diver reach the final, and who dives last?
I · Intermediate · The competition · 6 of 7In the 3 m springboard and 10 m platform events the top 18 from the preliminary go to the semi-final and the top 12 from that go to the final. Each round starts from zero. The preliminary order is drawn at random. In the semi-final and final, divers go in reverse order of ranking, so the leader dives last.
How it works
- Three rounds: at the Olympic Games and world championships "there shall always be a preliminary, a semi-final, and a final competition".
- Who goes through: the semi-final is "the top eighteen (18) ranked divers" and the final "the top twelve (12)".
- From zero: the three rounds "are separate events, each starting from zero (0) points".
- The draw: the order for a preliminary is decided by random draw at the technical meeting.
- Later rounds: divers compete "in reverse order of their ranking determined by the total scores" of the round before.
- A tie for order: settled by a draw between the divers concerned.
- Round by round: all the divers perform their first dive in turn, then all their second and so on through the list.
- A diver drops out: the next-ranked diver moves up so that the session has its full number.
- Big fields: a preliminary with more than 35 divers may be split in two, and no session may have more than 210 dives.
- Ties in the result: "When two or more divers score the same number of points, a tie shall be declared for that particular place."
Tricky cases
A diver wins the preliminary by 50 points. Do they take a lead into the semi-final?
No. Each round starts from zero.
Does the best diver in the semi-final dive first or last in the final?
Last. The order is the reverse of the ranking.
Two divers finish level on points in the final. Is there a dive-off?
No. A tie is declared for that place.
A finalist is injured in the warm-up. Is there an empty place?
No. The diver ranked next advances, so that the session has the prescribed number.
Why the rule exists
Starting each round at zero means a diver cannot coast on a big preliminary score. The final is won in the final. Reverse order keeps the contest open to the end, because the leaders from the semi-final dive after everyone else on every round.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | DV 2.1; DV 2.3 |
| 1 m springboard | A preliminary and a final of twelve | DV 2.2 |
| Synchronised events | A direct final at the Olympic Games. A preliminary and a final of eight at the world championships | DV 2.4 |
| Mixed team and mixed synchronised | A direct final | DV 2.5; DV 2.6 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Four: Diving Rules (in force as from 1 January 2025), Articles 2.1 to 2.6 and 4.10. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).