Olympics Divers Explainer奥运跳水运动员揭秘

Viewers of the Olympics are apparently a little baffled by the behavior of athletes in the diving events.

奥运会的观众显然对跳水比赛中运动员的行为感到有些不解。

Divers typically emerge from the water after a plunge and immediately take a quick shower by the side of the pool—even though they are already wet. Then they dry themselves off with little towels—even though they will get wet again on their next dive.

跳水运动员完成每跳动作之后游出水面，然后立刻到池边快速冲个澡——哪怕他们浑身上下早已湿透。接着，他们用小浴巾将身体擦干——哪怕他们下一跳还会弄湿全身。

So yes， why？ We spoke to Jacob Brehmer， diving coach for Ball State University in Indiana， for some answers.

情况确属如此，那么原因何在？我们采访了印第安纳州鲍尔州立大学的跳水教练雅各布·布雷默，向他求教了以下几个问题。

Why divers shower

为何要冲澡？

According to Brehmer， the answer comes down to one thing. “Divers shower in between dives typically just to keep themselves and their muscles warm，” he says. They usually rinse off in water that’s warmer than the pool.

布雷默称，原因可归结为一点。他说：“跳水运动员在每跳之间冲澡，一般只是为了给身体和肌肉保暖。”他们冲澡的水通常比泳池中的水温度高。

Indoor diving pools must maintain water temperatures of at least 26 degrees Celsius （78.8 degrees Fahrenheit）， according to FINA， the governing body that sets rules for international water sports competitions.

为国际水上运动竞赛制定规则的管理机构国际泳联称，室内跳水池的水温不得低于26摄氏度（78.8华氏度）。

“Usually after a diver does a dive， they will have to wait a good amount of time before their next dive，” Brehmer says. “The air temperature on the pool deck may be a little chilly， so the shower can help keep muscles warm. Diving is such a precise and fast-twitch sport， if the diver gets a little cold and tight， it could really affect their performance.”

“跳水运动员每跳过后，一般要等上很长一段时间才会进行下一跳。”布雷默说，“池边的气温可能有点低，因此冲澡有助于肌肉保暖。跳水是一项精准、快速完成动作的运动。即使身体稍有受凉、肌肉略感僵硬，也会对运动员的表现产生影响。”

Why they use tiny towels

为何使用小浴巾？

Staying warm is also one of the reasons swimmers and divers use tiny towels called chamois at major events.

保暖也是游泳运动员和跳水运动员在重大比赛中使用小浴巾的原因之一。这种小浴巾叫作“麂皮”。

The towels are portable and extremely water absorbent， allowing the divers to dry off quickly and stay warm， Brehmer says.

布雷默说，这种小浴巾方便携带、吸水性极强，能让运动员迅速擦干身上的水，从而保持体温。

Remaining dry also means safer—and more competitive—dives.

保持干燥也意味跳水时更安全，竞技状态更强。

“When the divers are flipping through the air， they are grabbing onto their legs and squeezing very tight，” he says. “If their legs are wet， then there’s a good possibility that ... their hands will slip off their legs and they will come out of the dive early—which could result in injury and almost always lower scores.”

“跳水运动员在空中完成翻转动作时，需要抱住双腿并使劲向前屈体。”布雷默说，“如果运动员的腿是湿的，那么很有可能他们的手会在腿上打滑，入水前身体过早打开——这样会造成损伤，而且几乎难得高分。”

Why they tape their bodies

为何在身体上贴肌贴？

Olympic divers perform mind-blowing acrobatics into deep pools at high velocity， and keeping their muscles healthy is a crucial part of their success.

奥运会跳水运动员高速完成令人叹为观止的复杂动作后落入深水池，保持肌肉状态良好是他们成功的关键。

Any stress in muscle movement can lead to drastic results. That’s a reason some divers wear tape on their knees， back or shoulders.

肌肉在运动过程中受到的任何力都有可能造成极其严重的后果。这便是某些跳水运动员在膝、背或肩部贴上肌贴的一个原因。

It’s similar to the tape worn by beach volleyball players， tennis players and other athletes.

类似的肌贴在沙滩排球、网球等项目的运动员身上也可见到。

“Basically it just provides a little extra support and can relieve pain in muscles， joints and ligaments，” Brehmer says.

布雷默说：“肌贴基本就是提供一点额外支持，可以减轻肌肉、关节和韧带的疼痛。”

In a highly competitive sport where the tiniest edge may mean the difference between a medal and finishing sixth， many athletes are leaving nothing to chance.

在这个竞争异常激烈的比赛项目上，哪怕是极微弱的优势可能也会意味着奖牌和第六名之别。因此许多运动员不会留下任何漏洞。

（译者单位：宜春学院体育学院）