Why Olympic divers get in hot tub after every dive at Paris Games

Imagine getting in the hot tub after approximately five seconds of work.

Sounds like a pretty good gig to me.

But as you probably expect, there is a good reason why Olympic divers will always hop in the shower or the 'hot tub' after every dive.

And it's apparently down to science.

With the likes of Tom Daley competing today (29 July), you have probably noticed that after each dive, the athletes will climb out of the pool immediately and head straight for a hot shower, or a quick sit down in the hot tub.

While watching the Paris Games, viewers were loving it, as one person tweeted: "One of my favourite things at the Summer Olympics is that jacuzzi the divers get to hang out in."

"Found the Olympic sport I could excel in, non-synchronised sitting in a hot tub," a second penned.

"Love that they give the Olympic divers a little hot tub to hang out in between dives," a third added.

"It’s like they’re aliens from some water-based planet and can’t stay out of it for too long."

Well, Daley and all the other divers often have recovery at the top of their priorities when in the middle of completion.

Why do Olympic divers shower after every plunge?

It all comes down to injury prevention and looking after their muscles.

By simply showering or sitting in hot water, divers are helping to keep their muscles relaxed and loose between every dive.

It lowers the risk of getting cramp or even pulling a muscle the next time you're on the board.

Viewers have been loving it. (BBC)

This means that the risk of injuring yourself is massively reduced.

Another reason divers do it is to wash off the chlorine from their skin, which can irritate not only their skin, but their eyes too.

What Tom Daley really worries about

The champion diver, 30, who won gold in the men’s 10m synchronised high board event at Tokyo 2020, appeared to be very relaxed on Saturday morning (27 July) while his was filmed knitting in the stands.

However, 12 days before competing at his fifth Olympic Games, Daley revealed that he was more nervous about flying with his kids Robbie and Phoenix, who he shares with husband Dustin Lance Black.

"I was worried how it was going to go," said Daley.

"Luckily, it was a night flight, so Robbie, who travels all the time, was fine because he's six now, so he's a bit more like an adult.

"Phoenix, however, is very much the second child – wriggly, wants to climb everything, jump on everything.

"He was quiet but I had to like wrangle him the whole time."