Olympic Event #5 - Diving

I jumped off the tall tower at my local swimming pool about 5 times in total, and never after the age of 10.  It's not that I am afraid of heights exactly - it was more being able to imagine far too vividly whatg could go wrong.

In each case I crept to the concreteedge nervously, holding my hands to my chin, looking down atthe water at least 100 feet down, and hesitating until the shame of not jumping moved me to the inevitable closed-eye drop, the inelegant splash and the desperate kick up to the surface before my lungs died of air deprivation, the large amount taken in having being removed the minute I hit the water.

It was only the feeling of exhilaration and the pride of having done it and survived that had me do it again at all.

Teeny Tiny Competitors for the Women's 10m Platform Diving Olympic Final

It all came back to me as we climbed 8000 stairs on a warm, muggy night, the smell of chlorine hitting my nose. Especially when we finally reached our seats and looked down at the high diving board at the Olympic pool, a board that looked as far away as the water had looked to me all those years ago.

Our seats!

That these woman can do what they do in about 2 tiny seconds again and again is heroic to me.  I will applaud their talents and stick to doing laps.

Olymic Rings under Water