Think you’ve got what it takes to leap into thin air and slip into the water like an eel from a height of 10m? Hey, come back

Introduction

If you can swim, like heights and are utterly fearless, diving might just be the sport for you. There are more than 100 diving-friendly pools across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where you can practise without having to aim between paddling infants. You either jump from a springboard up to a height of 3m or a firm board at 5m, 7.5m or 10m. If that isn’t enough, you’re creeping towards the terrain of high-diving, and should go and see a therapist.

The basics

There are six basic types of dive (forward, backward, reverse, inward, twisting and armstand), and four positions the body can adopt while in the air: tuck (rolling into a ball), pike (bending at the hips but not the knees), straight (body extended at all points) and free (a combination of the above, including twists). The bellyflop is so far unrecognised. Divers usually enter the water head-first, as close to vertical as possible, and with palms held overlapping towards the water to create a “rip entry” and thus minimise splash. Synchronised diving is popular at competition level.

Health benefits

Diving is great exercise for the upper body, notably the arms, and leads to improved flexibility, posture and focus.

Equipment, costs and practicalities

How much for a pair of Speedos and a spray-tan these days? Other than that, it’s the standard pool fees – though it isn’t recommended that you attempt the higher dives without coaching. Contact your local ASA regional office to get information about diving clubs, events and competitions near you.

Trendiness rating: 8/10

The signs on the wall during school swimming lessons said “No diving”, didn’t they? These guys are mavericks.

Inside line

Faye Callaghan, swimming.org: “Diving is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It involves leaping and springing into water while trying to perfect a series of body positions. It’s also very strictly controlled. If you’ve ever watched a diving competition, you’ll have seen the strength, flexibility and courage of the divers.

It’s a fantastic sport for anyone who wants to put their aquatic skills to the test. Having a head for heights and good flexibility is essential, but even the most timid of participants can learn all the basics and more. Diving is a sport that is growing in popularity all the time, and with Tom Daley and co making the headlines this summer there has never been a more exciting time to get involved.”

Find out more

Great British Diving Federation – UK diving clubs listed.

Swimming.org – diving section of the British Swimming website.

You may also like

Synchronised swimming, trampolining.

You might hate

Football, mountain biking.

Over to you

Are you a diver? Help us build up this resource by sharing tips, videos, links to clubs and anything else that beginners might find useful.

Think you’ve got what it takes to leap into thin air and slip into the water like an eel from a height of 10m? Hey, come back

Introduction

If you can swim, like heights and are utterly fearless, diving might just be the sport for you. There are more than 100 diving-friendly pools across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where you can practise without having to aim between paddling infants. You either jump from a springboard up to a height of 3m or a firm board at 5m, 7.5m or 10m. If that isn’t enough, you’re creeping towards the terrain of high-diving, and should go and see a therapist.

The basics

There are six basic types of dive (forward, backward, reverse, inward, twisting and armstand), and four positions the body can adopt while in the air: tuck (rolling into a ball), pike (bending at the hips but not the knees), straight (body extended at all points) and free (a combination of the above, including twists). The bellyflop is so far unrecognised. Divers usually enter the water head-first, as close to vertical as possible, and with palms held overlapping towards the water to create a “rip entry” and thus minimise splash. Synchronised diving is popular at competition level.

Health benefits

Diving is great exercise for the upper body, notably the arms, and leads to improved flexibility, posture and focus.

Equipment, costs and practicalities

How much for a pair of Speedos and a spray-tan these days? Other than that, it’s the standard pool fees – though it isn’t recommended that you attempt the higher dives without coaching. Contact your local ASA regional office to get information about diving clubs, events and competitions near you.

Trendiness rating: 8/10

The signs on the wall during school swimming lessons said “No diving”, didn’t they? These guys are mavericks.

Inside line

Faye Callaghan, swimming.org: “Diving is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It involves leaping and springing into water while trying to perfect a series of body positions. It’s also very strictly controlled. If you’ve ever watched a diving competition, you’ll have seen the strength, flexibility and courage of the divers.

It’s a fantastic sport for anyone who wants to put their aquatic skills to the test. Having a head for heights and good flexibility is essential, but even the most timid of participants can learn all the basics and more. Diving is a sport that is growing in popularity all the time, and with Tom Daley and co making the headlines this summer there has never been a more exciting time to get involved.”

Find out more

Great British Diving Federation – UK diving clubs listed.

Swimming.org – diving section of the British Swimming website.

You may also like

Synchronised swimming, trampolining.

You might hate

Football, mountain biking.

Over to you

Are you a diver? Help us build up this resource by sharing tips, videos, links to clubs and anything else that beginners might find useful.

• Lord Moynihan says cyclist has entered ‘hallowed territory’
• Andy Hunt praises 32-year-old for winning his seventh medal

The British Olympic Association has refused to be drawn on whether Bradley Wiggins is now Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, but said the seven-times medallist had now entered “hallowed territory”. Lord Moynihan, the BOA chairman, said he was “right up there at the top” of the list of the greatest British Olympians of all time.

“There are other people who will join him there, not least Sir Steve Redgrave,” he said. “Nothing can take away from him that he is now unquestionably one of the greatest athletes we’ve seen in any discipline in the history of Team GB.”

Team GB’s chef de mission, Andy Hunt, said the achievement of Wiggins, who won his fourth gold medal and his seventh in total at the cycling time trial at Hampton Court on Wednesday, had elevated him “to the top table of sporting achievements”. He said that Britain’s run of medals on Wednesday – including another gold for Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the rowing, a silver for Michael Jamieson in the pool and two bronzes in the rowing and the cycling – had delivered “an extra boost of adrenaline” for the team.

Team GB officials said that a roar went up from the athlete’s village at around midday on Wednesday when Glover and Stanning crossed the line for Britain’s first gold. “There is a support for each other in a way we haven’t seen before,” Hunt said. “The public have been incredible, it was totally electric. If we can continue to that it will be amazing.”

Moynihan again called for any empty seats to be filled with British fans, paying tribute to those in the packed stands at Eton Dorney for the rowing. “There is quite a lot of debate about how much that benefits the home nation,” he said. “But our rowers have really benefited from that atmosphere down there.”

The BOA chairman also paid tribute to Robin Williams, the British Rowing coach who has moulded Stanning and Glover into a gold medal winning pair in just 18 months. “Robin Williams is a quiet, total professional, dedicated to his job,” he said. “A lot of attention and focus should go on what he’s done. Their success was his success.”

Moynihan added that the BOA plans to honour the team’s coaches after the Games.

• Lord Moynihan says cyclist has entered ‘hallowed territory’
• Andy Hunt praises 32-year-old for winning his seventh medal

The British Olympic Association has refused to be drawn on whether Bradley Wiggins is now Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, but said the seven-times medallist had now entered “hallowed territory”. Lord Moynihan, the BOA chairman, said he was “right up there at the top” of the list of the greatest British Olympians of all time.

“There are other people who will join him there, not least Sir Steve Redgrave,” he said. “Nothing can take away from him that he is now unquestionably one of the greatest athletes we’ve seen in any discipline in the history of Team GB.”

Team GB’s chef de mission, Andy Hunt, said the achievement of Wiggins, who won his fourth gold medal and his seventh in total at the cycling time trial at Hampton Court on Wednesday, had elevated him “to the top table of sporting achievements”. He said that Britain’s run of medals on Wednesday – including another gold for Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the rowing, a silver for Michael Jamieson in the pool and two bronzes in the rowing and the cycling – had delivered “an extra boost of adrenaline” for the team.

Team GB officials said that a roar went up from the athlete’s village at around midday on Wednesday when Glover and Stanning crossed the line for Britain’s first gold. “There is a support for each other in a way we haven’t seen before,” Hunt said. “The public have been incredible, it was totally electric. If we can continue to that it will be amazing.”

Moynihan again called for any empty seats to be filled with British fans, paying tribute to those in the packed stands at Eton Dorney for the rowing. “There is quite a lot of debate about how much that benefits the home nation,” he said. “But our rowers have really benefited from that atmosphere down there.”

The BOA chairman also paid tribute to Robin Williams, the British Rowing coach who has moulded Stanning and Glover into a gold medal winning pair in just 18 months. “Robin Williams is a quiet, total professional, dedicated to his job,” he said. “A lot of attention and focus should go on what he’s done. Their success was his success.”

Moynihan added that the BOA plans to honour the team’s coaches after the Games.

Poll suggests the mayor of London would increase support for his party if he were Tory leader

He may have been caught looking distinctly uncomfortable hanging from a zip-wire after getting stuck on Wednesday, but Boris Johnson’s star is firmly in the ascendancy, with a new poll suggesting Labour’s current lead over the Conservatives would be slashed if he were party leader.

A YouGov survey for the Sun reveals that 34% of people would vote for a Cameron-led Tory party, while 40% would vote for Labour under Ed Miliband’s leadership. If the current mayor of London were party leader, on the other hand, support for the Tories would rise to 37%, while Labour’s would fall to 38%. The poll shows the Labour party (43%) enjoying a lead of 11 percentage points over the Conservatives (32%), with the Liberal Democrats on 10%.

The YouGov poll findings were published just days after a separate poll by ConservativeHome showed Johnson is the early favourite among grassroots Tories to succeed Cameron as leader.

The poll of 1,419 Conservative activists showed 32% back Johnson, who is eight points ahead of his nearest rival, former leader William Hague (24%), with the education secretary, Michael Gove, on 19%. David Davis was on 10%, with George Osborne, the chancellor, languishing in eighth place on just 2%.

The polling comes as Johnson enjoys a high media profile during the Olympic Games as principal cheerleader for London 2012. A brief speech by the mayor to rally a mass crowd in Hyde Park, who had come to see the last leg of the torch relay on the eve of the Olympic opening ceremony last Thursday, was interrupted by chants of “Boris, Boris”.

Further photo opportunities presented themselves when he triggered his own version of the Mexican wave while attending a beach volleyball event in Horse Guards Parade. Even dangling awkwardly over Victoria Park in east London after getting temporarily stuck midway on his zip-wire ride did nothing to damage the brand, prompting Cameron to quip that only Johnson could get away with what would have proved a PR disaster for almost anyone else.

Cameron said: “If any other politician anywhere in the world was stuck on a zip-wire it would be a disaster. For Boris, it’s an absolute triumph.”

But not all the headlines have been good for Johnson. He was accused of “appalling judgment” after it emerged he had invited Rupert Murdoch as his personal guest to watch Rebecca Adlington defend her 800 m swimming gold at the 2012 Olympics on Friday.

Political opponents said it was inappropriate for Johnson, who as mayor has oversight of Scotland Yard, to invite the News International proprietor while a Metropolitan police investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal involving the company is still under way.

The row was stoked on Thursday when Murdoch was moved to tweet: “London in best shape ever. All overboard about the Olympics, brilliantly organised by Zeb [sic] Coe and Boris Johnson.”

Former Labour minister Lord Prescott wasted little time tweeting back: “@rupertmurdoch Why are you accepting Olympic hospitality from a mayor in charge of the police who are investigating your newspapers?”

Poll suggests the mayor of London would increase support for his party if he were Tory leader

He may have been caught looking distinctly uncomfortable hanging from a zip-wire after getting stuck on Wednesday, but Boris Johnson’s star is firmly in the ascendancy, with a new poll suggesting Labour’s current lead over the Conservatives would be slashed if he were party leader.

A YouGov survey for the Sun reveals that 34% of people would vote for a Cameron-led Tory party, while 40% would vote for Labour under Ed Miliband’s leadership. If the current mayor of London were party leader, on the other hand, support for the Tories would rise to 37%, while Labour’s would fall to 38%. The poll shows the Labour party (43%) enjoying a lead of 11 percentage points over the Conservatives (32%), with the Liberal Democrats on 10%.

The YouGov poll findings were published just days after a separate poll by ConservativeHome showed Johnson is the early favourite among grassroots Tories to succeed Cameron as leader.

The poll of 1,419 Conservative activists showed 32% back Johnson, who is eight points ahead of his nearest rival, former leader William Hague (24%), with the education secretary, Michael Gove, on 19%. David Davis was on 10%, with George Osborne, the chancellor, languishing in eighth place on just 2%.

The polling comes as Johnson enjoys a high media profile during the Olympic Games as principal cheerleader for London 2012. A brief speech by the mayor to rally a mass crowd in Hyde Park, who had come to see the last leg of the torch relay on the eve of the Olympic opening ceremony last Thursday, was interrupted by chants of “Boris, Boris”.

Further photo opportunities presented themselves when he triggered his own version of the Mexican wave while attending a beach volleyball event in Horse Guards Parade. Even dangling awkwardly over Victoria Park in east London after getting temporarily stuck midway on his zip-wire ride did nothing to damage the brand, prompting Cameron to quip that only Johnson could get away with what would have proved a PR disaster for almost anyone else.

Cameron said: “If any other politician anywhere in the world was stuck on a zip-wire it would be a disaster. For Boris, it’s an absolute triumph.”

But not all the headlines have been good for Johnson. He was accused of “appalling judgment” after it emerged he had invited Rupert Murdoch as his personal guest to watch Rebecca Adlington defend her 800 m swimming gold at the 2012 Olympics on Friday.

Political opponents said it was inappropriate for Johnson, who as mayor has oversight of Scotland Yard, to invite the News International proprietor while a Metropolitan police investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal involving the company is still under way.

The row was stoked on Thursday when Murdoch was moved to tweet: “London in best shape ever. All overboard about the Olympics, brilliantly organised by Zeb [sic] Coe and Boris Johnson.”

Former Labour minister Lord Prescott wasted little time tweeting back: “@rupertmurdoch Why are you accepting Olympic hospitality from a mayor in charge of the police who are investigating your newspapers?”

• Great Britain were losing to Australia but recovered to win
• Two countries face each other again in Saturday’s final

Team GB laid down a marker ahead of Saturday’s men’s four final with an impressive victory over arch gold medal rivals Australia in Thursday’s semi-final.

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory hit back from a length down to row through the Australians with a massive push in the last 500 metres and complete a confidence-boosting victory.

Britain are looking to extend their golden dynasty in the men’s four to 16 years following Olympic triumphs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

Australia claimed after winning the Munich World Cup regatta in June that their tactic of leading from the front had “scared the hell” out of Britain but Thursday’s performance from the British crew will have gone a long way to debunk that claim and it has set up another sensational showdown for gold on Saturday.

• Great Britain were losing to Australia but recovered to win
• Two countries face each other again in Saturday’s final

Team GB laid down a marker ahead of Saturday’s men’s four final with an impressive victory over arch gold medal rivals Australia in Thursday’s semi-final.

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory hit back from a length down to row through the Australians with a massive push in the last 500 metres and complete a confidence-boosting victory.

Britain are looking to extend their golden dynasty in the men’s four to 16 years following Olympic triumphs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

Australia claimed after winning the Munich World Cup regatta in June that their tactic of leading from the front had “scared the hell” out of Britain but Thursday’s performance from the British crew will have gone a long way to debunk that claim and it has set up another sensational showdown for gold on Saturday.

The best of today’s pictures from day 6 of the London 2012 Olympics

Flag mix-up has only served to intensify atmosphere of mutual loathing between North and South ahead of table tennis match

The appearance of the South Korean flag alongside photos of the North Korean women’s football team on the opening day of the London Olympics turned out to be as portentous as it was embarrassing.

The flag mishap set the tone for the early stages of the Games, during which the historical rivals, who are still technically at war, have maintained a theme of mutual loathing that will intensify this week in a showdown in the men’s team table tennis.

To its credit, North Korea has added sporting achievement to the usual cold war intrigue that accompanies its presence at international sports events, with an impressive start that propelled it to fifth place in the medals table – just two places behind its much wealthier neighbour.

By the close of day five North Korea, which took 56 athletes to London, had won four gold medals and a bronze; South Korea has won 12 medals, including six golds.

The countries’ separate entrance to the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony reflects the dramatic deterioration in bilateral relations since they marched together, under the blue-and-white flag of a united Korean peninsula, in Sydney 12 years ago.

The thaw was noticeably absent in Beijing, soon after North Korean guards had shot dead a South Korean tourist, and there has been little evidence of rapprochement in London.

The flag mix-up aside, North Korea’s table tennis coach has complained to the organisers after practically accusing photographers from the South of disrupting a training session. In the South, frustration at a series of refereeing decisions can only have been compounded by the sight of the impoverished North near the top of the medals table.

Generosity of spirit has not, however, been totally absent. South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper paid tribute to the North’s “sensational start” in London and predicted more medals would follow.

When the teams compete at table tennis on Saturday, there will be far more at stake than national pride.

It is rumoured that North Korean athletes who embarrass the homeland in international competitions face being sent to labour camps on their return home — one explanation, perhaps, for the excessively long protest launched by the women’s football team at Hampden Park last week.

North Korean athletes are something of an enigma. While the US women’s football team shopped and ate out in the run-up to their meeting on Tuesday, the North Koreans holed up in their hotel. Their coach explained that it rained too often to venture out, and the players had become rather attached to their Glasgow digs.

Back home, it is difficult to gauge what ordinary North Koreans think of their team’s sterling start to the Games. Viewer figures aren’t available, but some at least are being treated to up to five hours of recorded Olympic coverage every day, having had to make do with just 15 minutes until their compatriots started winning medals.

“People back home are excited about our athletes’ great performances,” Ri Kwang-chol, the head of the North’s radio and television broadcasting committee, told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean regime’s official mouthpiece, every one of the country’s 23 million people has been caught up in “a tumult of joy”.

When An Kum-ae won her judo gold, a team official praised her “strong perseverance and high technique” on its English-language website, adding, predictably, that she had “displayed pluck and confidence instilled by the Supreme Commander Kim Jong-un”.

He went on: “Her success has given great strength and courage to the servicepersons and civilians of [North Korea] in making victorious advance.”

Praise for the Kim dynasty aside, North Korean coverage of a global event would not be complete without a jibe hurled in the general direction of the west.

An official in the ministry of posts and telecommunications in Pyongyang derided “evil-minded foreign media [which] asserted that North Korea would take only one silver medal, but our sportspersons refuted such assertions with good results”.

Goldman Sachs earned a similar rebuke from the KCNA for predicting that, based on its per capita income, North Korea would leave London without a single medal.

South Korea’s promising start has been overshadowed by controversies involving its athletes which, according to the Korea Times, had “marred the credibility of the Olympics” and “triggered an enormous outpouring of public outrage”.

Shin A-lam’s contentious loss in the semi-final of the women’s épée was one of several poor judging decisions that had some commentators sounding more like their indignant counterparts in the North.

One even pointed to a conspiracy among European countries to keep Korean athletes off the podium. “The west has made most sports rules,” Prof Lee Jeong-hak of Kyung Hee University in Seoul told the Korea Times. “They might strongly believe that as the host they are entitled to do so. As they feel depressed because of the current euro economic crisis, there could have been jealousy against Korea.”

If the dastardly Europeans are beyond the pale, at least South Korea can still depend on its chief ally for moral support. A day after its women defeated North Korea in the football tournament, the US embassy in Seoul chipped in with some encouragement on Twitter: “Go, #TeamKorea! They’re No.3 in the @London2012 #Olympic medal count, just behind #TeamUSA! How long can they hold on?”