The biggest stage in the world seems to bring out outstanding performances, and there is no bigger stage than the Olympic Games. Here are some of the highlights from the diving competition over the past 100 years.
Photo: Tony Duffy/Allsport
Louganis' quest for Olympic history met a roadblock in the name of Xiong Ni. The 14-year-old from China pushed the 28 year-old Louganis from the start and was leading the legend going into the final round by a scant three points. Louganis’ final dive was a reverse 3 1/2 in tuck, a dive that had caused the death of a Soviet diver one year earlier. But ever the champion, Louganis stuck his dive and won the gold by 1.14 points, completing the coveted double-double: winning the springboard and platform events in consecutive Olympics.
Wilkinson Upsets the Chinese in Sydney
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
China was the dominant power in diving as the Olympic Games began in 2000 and were the favorites to win the women's platform event for the fifth consecutive time. But somebody forgot to tell U.S. diver Laura Wilkinson as she roared back from eighth place at the beginning of the final to capture the only medal for the U.S. in 2000. Prior to Wilkinson’s victory China had won the last four platform titles.
Greece Wins Its First Olympic Diving Medal In Front of the Hometown Crowd
Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
There is an old adage that states, "sometimes it is better to be lucky than good." That may be an apropos description for Greek divers Nikolaos Siranidis and Thomas Bimis who took advantage of mistakes by the leading medal contenders and walked away with the gold medal in the men's synchronized springboard.
