Make a Splash: The 10 Greatest Divers of All-Time
Top Divers in History - Including Big Records + Olympic Achievements
Who are the 10 greatest divers to make the biggest splash? Read on to find out The Sporting Blog’s top picks!
Legendary British diver Tom Daley
Choosing the greatest divers of all-time is subjective, as greatness in this sport is defined in many ways.
However, we’ve chosen 10 amazing divers based on their achievements, records and impact on the diving world. So, let’s…dive in!
1. Wu Minxia
The most decorated diver ever, winning 29 international-level titles
She won seven Olympic medals, five of which were gold
She won 14 World Championship medals, eight of which were gold
Wu Minxia is a retired Chinese diver who started diving at age six after being hand-picked by a diving coach.
She specialised in the one-metre and three-metre springboard, as well as synchronised springboard events. Her Olympic career began in 2004 at the Athens Olympics, where she and her synchro partner Guo Jingjing won gold.
While most of her medals are from synchronised events, she won her first and only individual gold at the 2012 London Olympics on the three-metre springboard.
2. Greg Louganis
Considered one of the greatest divers in history
He won four Olympic gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and one silver at the 1976 Olympics
He’s known for his exceptional grace, technique and ability to perform under pressure
Greg Louganis is a retired American diver who excelled in the 10-metre platform and three-metre springboard events.
He is the only male diver in Olympic history to rake in so many medals at consecutive events.
Greg was also the first diver to get a perfect 10 score at a major international meet. His artistry and elegance in diving could be attributed to his years of studying classical dance.
3. Chen Ruolin
Ruolin won five Olympic gold medals at three consecutive events (2008, 2012 and 2016)
Her focus was on 10-metre platform individual and 10-metre synchronised events
She was the inaugural recipient of the FINA Diver of the Year award in 2010
Chen Ruolin is another exceptional Chinese diver among the most decorated female divers in history. Between 2006 and 2016, Ruolin won 24 gold, five silver and one bronze in major international events.
She was the first female diver to claim gold in Olympic, World Championship and World Cup platform events. Ruolin retired from this solo sport in October 2016 due to sustaining a neck injury.
4. Tom Daley
Daley won 15 gold medals at international events, including the Olympics
His international diving career started in 2007 when he was 12
He was the youngest-ever winner of the European Championships in 2008
Tom Daley is a British diver and TV personality specialising in the 10-metre platform events (synchro and individual). He started diving at age seven and belonged to the Plymouth Diving Club.
While winning dozens of medals in international competitions, his first Olympic gold was for 10-metre platform synchro.
In 2022, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service to diving, charity and LGBTQ+ rights.
5. Laura Wilkinson
Wilkinson is a three-time Olympian (2000, 2004 and 2008)
She won Olympic gold at the 2008 Games before retiring for nine years
She was the World Champion in 2005
Laura Wilkinson is an American diver from Texas who focused on three-metre individual and synchro, and 10-metre platform individual and synchro.
She started off doing gymnastics but went over to diving after puberty.
She's recognised for her titles as a female Olympian, as well as her World Championship wins and her inspiring comeback after nine years of retirement.
Returning from her retirement in 2017, Wilkinson was placed second at the US Nationals despite her neck surgery.
6. Matthew Mitcham
Mitcham is the 2008 Olympic champion in 10-metre platform
At the time, he received the highest single-dive score in Olympic history
In 2014, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games for 10-metre platform synchro
Matthew Mitcham was born in Australia and initially represented his country as a gymnast, specifically a great trampolinist. However, he was spotted by a diving coach and started his international diving career in 2002, aged 14.
He was the first Australian male to win Olympic gold in 84 years. In 2016, Matthew announced his retirement from diving to focus on his show business career.
7. Fu Mingxia
Mingxia won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal during her diving career
She was the youngest-ever World Champion, aged 12 in 1991
She won her first Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, aged 13 years and 345 days
Fu Mingxia is a retired Chinese diver who was initially invested in gymnastics.
At the 1992 Olympics, she won with a score of 461.43 points, which was almost 50 points more than her closest rival. In 1996, she won two golds: one for three-metre platform and one for 10-metre platform.
In 2000, Fu partnered with Guo Jingjing in synchro events, winning silver for synchro. However, that year, she won an individual gold for three-metre diving.
8. Dmitry Sautin
Sautin won two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2000)
He also won two Olympic silvers and four bronzes
He won five World Championships across three different events (platform, three-metre individual and synchro)
Dmitry Sautin, a highly decorated Russian diver, competed in five Olympic Games during his diving career. In his first Olympics in 1992, he represented the Unified Team.
During his next four Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008), he represented Russia.
Between 1991 and 2010, Dmitry won an impressive 18 medals at the European Championships, of which eight were gold.
9. Rachelle Simpson
Known as "America's Queen of Cliff Diving”
She won the FINA World Championship in 2015
She’s won two FINA World Cups (2013 and 2014)
Rachelle Simpson is an American high diver, jumping from platforms over 20 metres above the water.
Like many professional divers, she started off as a gymnast. However, she moved to diving at age 13 and took up high diving in 2014 when the Cliff Diving Series introduced a women's competition.
At her last World Cup event in 2016, Rachelle came eighth and stopped competing.
10. Alexandre Despatie
The only diver to be a World Champion in one-metre and three-metre springboard, and 10-metre platform
The most decorated male diver in Canadian history
He won an impressive gold at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 at age 13, winning the 10-metre platform with a perfect score
Alexandre Despatie is a Canadian-born diver and broadcaster. He started diving at age five, practising in his swimming pool at home.
His fantastic performance at the Commonwealth Games earned him a place in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records and propelled him into the international diving circuit.
He competed at four Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and won two silver medals in 2004 and 2008 for three-metre springboard synchro and individual.
The 10 Greatest Divers of All-Time
These 10 divers have not only redefined the boundaries of their sport - they've also inspired countless individuals worldwide.
Their outstanding achievements, resilience and passion for diving have left an enduring legacy.
Do you think we left anyone off the list? Tell us your picks in the comments!
