Olympics Divers Explainer奧運跳水運動員揭秘

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

奧運會的觀眾顯然對跳水比賽中運動員的行為感到有些不解。

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.

跳水運動員完成每跳動作之后游出水面，然后立刻到池邊快速沖個澡——哪怕他們渾身上下早已濕透。接著，他們用小浴巾將身體擦干——哪怕他們下一跳還會弄濕全身。

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

情況確屬如此，那么原因何在？我們采訪了印第安納州鮑爾州立大學的跳水教練雅各布·布雷默，向他求教了以下幾個問題。

Why divers shower

為何要沖澡？

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.

布雷默稱，原因可歸結為一點。他說：“跳水運動員在每跳之間沖澡，一般只是為了給身體和肌肉保暖。”他們沖澡的水通常比泳池中的水溫度高。

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.

為國際水上運動競賽制定規則的管理機構國際泳聯稱，室內跳水池的水溫不得低于26攝氏度（78.8華氏度）。

“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.”

“跳水運動員每跳過后，一般要等上很長一段時間才會進行下一跳。”布雷默說，“池邊的氣溫可能有點低，因此沖澡有助于肌肉保暖。跳水是一項精準、快速完成動作的運動。即使身體稍有受涼、肌肉略感僵硬，也會對運動員的表現產生影響。”

Why they use tiny towels

為何使用小浴巾？

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

保暖也是游泳運動員和跳水運動員在重大比賽中使用小浴巾的原因之一。這種小浴巾叫作“麂皮”。

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

布雷默說，這種小浴巾方便攜帶、吸水性極強，能讓運動員迅速擦干身上的水，從而保持體溫。

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

保持干燥也意味跳水時更安全，競技狀態更強。

“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.”

“跳水運動員在空中完成翻轉動作時，需要抱住雙腿并使勁向前屈體。”布雷默說，“如果運動員的腿是濕的，那么很有可能他們的手會在腿上打滑，入水前身體過早打開——這樣會造成損傷，而且幾乎難得高分。”

Why they tape their bodies

為何在身體上貼肌貼？

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

奧運會跳水運動員高速完成令人嘆為觀止的復雜動作后落入深水池，保持肌肉狀態良好是他們成功的關鍵。

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

肌肉在運動過程中受到的任何力都有可能造成極其嚴重的后果。這便是某些跳水運動員在膝、背或肩部貼上肌貼的一個原因。

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

類似的肌貼在沙灘排球、網球等項目的運動員身上也可見到。

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

布雷默說：“肌貼基本就是提供一點額外支持，可以減輕肌肉、關節和韌帶的疼痛。”

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.

在這個競爭異常激烈的比賽項目上，哪怕是極微弱的優勢可能也會意味著獎牌和第六名之別。因此許多運動員不會留下任何漏洞。

（譯者單位：宜春學院體育學院）