From tiny towels to strapped wrists: The 8 questions we have about Olympic diving, answered.

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The Olympic diving, though. There's just something so satisfying about it.

Somersaults! Pikes! Twists! So little splash!

But while we're all tuning in to enjoy watching Australia (hopefully) pick up a few more medals, we also have some very pressing questions we need answered, immediately.

Like why do drivers have tape on their body? And what's the go with the ridiculously tiny towels?

We decided to investigate, and by that we mean trawling the internet and watching TikTok videos for 'research'.

Listen to this episode of Mamamia Out Loud, where Holly, Mia and Jessie recap of some of the weirder side of the Olympic games. Post continues below.

Here are eight things you've probably always wondered when watching the diving at the Olympics. 

Let's dive in (excuse the pun). 

1. Why do divers have strapped wrists?

By now, you may have noticed divers wearing tape around their wrists or other parts of their bodies. And it's actually for a very good reason. 

In a TikTok video posted off the back of the Tokyo 2020 games, Melissa Wu explained that athletes hit the water so fast they need to wrap tape around their wrists to prevent injury from the impact. 

And by fast, we mean they're hitting the water at 60 kilometres per hour from the 10 metre platform. 

Wu said the most common diving injuries are to the neck, wrists, knees and back which are usually caused from diving into the water during training. 

"Sometimes we do over 50 dives per session."

Wu also uses wrist guards for extra support as she's suffered from wrist pain for over 10 years. 

@melissapaigewu

Learn more about diving so you can watch and support from home! ##tokyo2020 ##olympicspirit ##diving

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2. What's the go with the tiny towels?

You might think a towel that only covers a fraction of your body wouldn't be the best thing to keep you warm after getting out of the pool, but these suspiciously tiny towels are actually great at drying athletes.

In another TikTok video, Wu said the towel is called a shammy, and the athletes use them to dry off in between dives. This is important, because it enables them to grip onto their legs properly, which is how they perform positions such as pikes and tucks. 

"If you're wet, it's really easy for your hands to slip off your legs in the air," she explained. 

They also use the micro fibre towels to quickly dry their hair and swimsuits so that water doesn't spray when they spin in the air. 

"If you use your towel, it gets wet pretty quickly so using a shammy to dry off means you don't have to bring 50 towels with you to the pool."

@melissapaigewu

Learn more about diving so you can watch and support from home! #tokyo2020 #olympicspirit #diving

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3. Why do divers shower in between dives?

It might seem like an odd time to shower, but divers usually shower or jump in a hot tub after getting out of the pool.

This keeps their muscles warm and relaxed before their next dive, preventing muscle cramps and strains.

Tom Daley showering during his dive for the Synchronised 10m Platform at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Image: Getty. 

4. Why does water get sprayed in the pool?

You may have noticed water gets sprayed into the pool before every dive. 

This is so divers can see where the surface of the water is as they enter the water. Being up so high, divers can only see the bottom of the pool rather than where the surface begins. 

As diver Sam Fricker explained on TikTok during the Tokyo 2020 games, "When you're spinning around you need to be able to see the surface of the water so you know where you are. If the water was clear, you'd be seeing five metres deeper than what you actually are and you wouldn't be able to time your dive right." 

@samfrickerr

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5. How deep are Olympic diving pools?

At the Olympics, there are two types of diving; platform diving and springboard diving. 

Both of these take place in the same pool, which is why the International Federation of Aquatic Sports (FINA) recommends that the pool needs be at least 16 feet (around five metres) deep.

6. How high is the highest diving board?

In the Olympics, athletes dive from two different heights. One is three metres, and the other is 10 metres (which looks downright terrifying). 

The diving boards at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Image: Getty

7. What is the hardest dive?

According to British diver Tom Daley, the hardest dive tends to change every year. 

"But currently, I believe the hardest dive performed is a forward four-and-a-half somersault pike and an inwards four-and-a-half somersault tuck," he said in a video posted on the Olympic YouTube channel. 

8. How is Tom Daley's knitting going?

Speaking of Tom Daley, the gold medallist caught the world's attention in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with his impressive pool-side knitting skills. (He even knitted a crochet cover for his gold medal!).

And if you've been wondering how his knitting has been going, you're in luck. Recently, the 30 year old shared a photo on Instagram of the Olympic jumper he has been busy making to celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

Staying true to form, he was spotted working on his new jumper while watching the women's three-metre springboard final.

Tom Daley watching the women's 3-metre springboard final. Image: Getty

"My fifth Olympics is underway! I just wanted to jump in here and say a big thank you for all the support, and to let you know that we have so many exciting things coming up for," he wrote on Instagram alongside a video of his work in progress.

We can't wait to see it!

Watch the Olympics on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every event ad-free with 4K and international multi-language channels. Go to Stan.com.au/Olympics for more info.

What Olympic sport are you loving watching at the moment? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature Image: Getty.