Who are the diving stars to watch for at the 2023 World Championships? Can Chinese divers complete another sweep of the gold medals as they did in 2022? Find out everything you need to know about diving events at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships from 14–22 July.
Diving events will be the first on show at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, this month. From 14–22 July 2023, the world's top divers will take part in 13 different events at the Fukuoka Prefectural Pool.
The sport returns to its traditional position at the start of the World Championships schedule, after being moved to the second week of competition at last year's Championships in Budapest.
Divers from the People's Republic of China swept all 13 gold medals last year in Hungary, something that had only previously happened twice (USA swept four events in 1982 and China swept 10 events in 2011), and will be aiming to repeat the feat this time around.
This year's Championships also serve as an Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualifier, with the top 12 finishers in the 3m and 10m individual events each obtaining an Olympic quota spot for their National Olympic Committee, and the top three teams (excluding France) in the men's and women's 3m and 10m synchronised events doing likewise.
Here is what you need to know about diving at the 2023 World Championships.
The Fukuoka Prefectural Pool is the only permanent pool facility that will serve as a venue for the 2023 World Championships, with other events taking place in temporary pools or the open water.
Competition will take place in the 22x20x5m indoor diving pool.
Located in Higashi Hirao Park near the city's airport, it has operated since April 1989 and is Fukuoka's only diving pool.
The facility's 50m pool was used for swimming at the 1995 Summer World University Games, while the diving pool served as the diving venue, just as it will this year, during the 2001 World Championships which were also held in the city.
Unsurprisingly, the Chinese team are the ones to watch given their divers won all 13 events at last year's World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
Four-time world champion and Olympic synchro champion Wang Zongyuan leads the men's team, with triple world champion Yang Hao also returning alongside his 10m synchro partner Lian Junjie. However, they are the only returning 2022 medallists on the men's side for China.
Meanwhile, their women's team includes 2022 world champions Li Yajie, Chen Yiwen, Chang Yani, Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchan in a show of force. And last year's mixed 3m synchro champions Zhu Zifeng / Lin Shan are also back to defend their title, while Olympic women's 10m synchro champion Zhang Jiaqi forms part of China's mixed 10m synchro team this year.
Expect medal challenges from the likes of Great Britain (Daniel Goodfellow, Jack Laugher, Matty Lee, Anthony Harding, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix), Australia (Maddison Keeney, Li Shixin), the United States (Delaney Schnell, Jessica Parratto, Sarah Bacon, Andrew Capobianco), Malaysia (Pandelela Rinong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri), and Canada (Mia Vallée, Nathan Zsombor-Murray, Rylan Wiens). Mexico's Olympic medallists Alejandra Orozco and Gabriela Agúndez will also fancy their chances in the women's synchronised 10m platform.
And, after picking up two medals at last year's World Championships, can hosts Japan repeat on the podium?
There will be a total of 27 competition sessions in diving encompassing 13 events in the sport, including men's and women's individual and synchronised events, two mixed synchronised events, and a mixed team event.
All times listed are Japan Standard Time (UTC +9 hours).
14 July
15 July
16 July
17 July
18 July
19 July
20 July
21 July
22 July
In Europe, the World Aquatics Championships rights are held by the European Broadcasting Union. Many EBU member broadcasters, including the BBC in the United Kingdom, France Télévisions in France, and RAI in Italy, will broadcast the Championships. Additionally, the EBU's All Aquatics digital channel will broadcast the events for free in Europe.
In the United States, NBC holds the rights to the World Aquatics Championships, check local listings for broadcast schedules.
Fans in Australia can watch the 2023 World Championships on 9Network and 9Now.
And in host country Japan, TV Asahi serves as the host broadcaster.