Unveiling and test event for Olympic venue in Rio

The world’s best divers are arriving in Rio for arguably the most important competition on the road to the 2016 Olympic Games. The FINA Diving World Cup, which doubles up as the Rio 2016 test event for the sport, will not only provide athletes with a chance to compete at the Olympic venue, it will also offer the best opportunity to qualify for the Games, with 88 places up for grabs. The six-day competition will feature all eight Olympic events – men’s and women’s individual and synchronised competitions on the 3m springboard and 10m platform – and has 236 divers registered to compete.

The Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre – which will also stage the synchronised swimming competition and group stages of the water polo tournament during the Olympic Games in August – has undergone renovations ahead of the test event. The new faciltities include a ‘dry training room’ (in which divers can practice their moves using platforms, a trampoline and harnesses, without getting wet), and a new warm-up pool that is connected to the competition pool.

Photo: Lucas Freitas/Rio 2016