Why Olympic Divers Shower And Use Those Little Towels Between Jumps

(CNN) – Spectators at the Tokyo Olympics are apparently a bit baffled by the behavior of athletes at Olympic diving or diving events.

Divers often get out of the water after a dive and immediately take a quick shower next to the pool, even if they are already wet. They are then dried with small towels, although they will get wet again on the next dive.

“Why do divers bathe after every dive?” has been one of the main Google searches about the Olympics in the last week.

Then why? As platform jumping events continue this week, we caught up with Jacob Brehmer, scuba coach at Ball State University in Indiana, to get some answers.

Why do divers bathe?

According to Brehmer, the answer comes down to one thing.

“Divers shower between dives, usually just to keep themselves and their muscles warm,” he says. They are generally rinsed with water that is warmer than the pool.

Indoor diving pools like the one at the Tokyo Aquatic Center must keep the water temperature at least 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit), according to FINA, the governing body that sets the rules for international sports competitions. aquatic.

“Generally, after a diver takes a dive, they will have to wait a good amount of time before their next dive,” says Brehmer. “The … air temperature on the pool deck can be a bit cold, so the shower can help keep the muscles warm. Diving is such a precise and fast sport, if the diver gets a little chilly and tense, it could really affect their performance. “

Why they use tiny towels

Staying warm is also one of the reasons swimmers and divers use tiny towels called chamois —Pronounced “shammy” – at important events.

The towels are portable and extremely water absorbent, allowing divers to dry quickly and stay warm, says Brehmer.

Staying dry also means safer and more competitive dives.

“When divers are circling in the air, they hold onto the legs and squeeze very hard,” he says. “If your legs are wet, then there is a good chance that … your hands will slip and come out of the dive early, which could result in injuries and almost always lower scores.”

Why are they taping their bodies together?

Olympic divers perform mind-blowing stunts in deep pools at high speed, and keeping their muscles healthy is a crucial part of their success.

Any stress on the movement of the muscles can lead to drastic results. That’s another reason why some divers use duct tape on their knees, back, or shoulders.

It is similar to the tape worn by beach volleyball players, tennis players, and other athletes.

“It basically just provides a little extra support and can ease muscle, joint and ligament pain,” says Brehmer.

In a highly competitive sport where the slightest advantage can mean the difference between a medal and finishing sixth, many athletes leave nothing to chance.