Diving at Asian Games 2026: Events, China’s Dominance and What to Watch
China has won more Asian Games diving gold medals than any other nation, and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will be no different — unless Japan, Malaysia or South Korea can spring a surprise.
Events at Asian Games 2026
| Event | Format |
|---|---|
| Men’s 3m Springboard | Preliminary → Semifinal → Final |
| Men’s 10m Platform | Preliminary → Semifinal → Final |
| Women’s 3m Springboard | Preliminary → Semifinal → Final |
| Women’s 10m Platform | Preliminary → Semifinal → Final |
| Men’s Synchro 3m Springboard | Final only |
| Men’s Synchro 10m Platform | Final only |
| Women’s Synchro 3m Springboard | Final only |
| Women’s Synchro 10m Platform | Final only |
| Mixed Synchro 10m Platform | Final only |
How Scoring Works
Each dive is scored on a 10-point scale by a panel of seven judges. The highest and lowest two scores are dropped, and the remaining three are added and multiplied by the dive’s degree of difficulty (DD). The DD ranges from 1.2 to over 4.0 depending on how complex the dive is. Over the course of a final — typically 6 dives — the accumulated scores determine the winner.
Nations to Watch
| Nation | Event Strength |
|---|---|
| China 🇨🇳 | All 9 events — multi-event gold medal favorite |
| Japan 🇯🇵 | Platform and synchronized events |
| Malaysia 🇲🇾 | Springboard (men’s and women’s) |
| South Korea 🇰🇷 | Platform events — consistent bronze medalists |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between synchronized and individual diving?
Individual events feature one diver at a time on the board or platform. Synchronized events feature two divers performing simultaneously — they must match each other’s timing, body position in the air, and entry angle into the water. Judges score both technical execution and synchronization.
How is degree of difficulty determined?
The International Swimming Federation (now World Aquatics) publishes a table of approved dives with pre-set DD values. Divers choose their own list of dives before the competition, and each dive must be declared in advance. More complex twists, somersaults and body positions increase the DD.