PARIS, France — During the diving competition at the Paris Olympics, divers will make multiple dives during the event.
So why, if they know they're just going to dive into the water again, do competitive divers head straight for the showers after each of their dives? It's a sight that might leave some fans confused.
Why do divers shower after every dive?
In this case, it's all about protecting their muscles. Coming out of the pool after a dive and onto the air-conditioned pool deck can be chilly and cause their muscles to tense up, so divers will typically rinse off with warmer water than they dove into, sometimes taking a dip into a hot tub as well. Divers want to keep their muscles warm and as loose as possible for the next dive.
After that, you might see the athletes drying themselves off with a tiny towel called a "shammy."
Yes, they'll just get wet again on the next dive -- but athletes often have to wait a while in between dives while other athletes compete. In an acrobatic sport that requires such precision of movement, dry divers mean safer and more competitive dives.
How cold is the water?
Under rules set by FINA, the governing body for international water competitions, diving pool water temperature at the Olympics must not be below 26 degrees Celsius, or 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the federation's latest regulations.
Overall, water temperatures for indoor swimming competition needs to between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius or 77° to 82.4° Fahrenheit.
