Top, top bombing from Ireland’s Oliver Dingley.
At one point halfway through the second round the 23-year-old was in the silver medal position in the men’s 3m springboard final.
In the end Dingley had to settle for eighth position, though he gave Irish fans a thrilling ride along the way, converting many (for now at least) to his chosen sport.
Rowing, Sailing, Diving. Anyone would think we were surrounded by water #IRL #Rio2016
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 16, 2016
Whether it was the high of Annalise Murphy’s silver medal, or the disappointment of Michael Conlan’s unjust defeat, this was a bandwagon that Irish fans needed late on a Tuesday night.
Of course, the only thing most people know about diving is that you shouldn’t make a splash as you enter the water, but soon the conversation moved beyond this into new and uncharted diving territory.
And it didn’t take much to get people board this particular wagon. As soon as RTE commentator John Kenny mentioned that Dingley was engaged in some “low-tariff dives” (which translate as less risky dives that would limit the scope of his scoring ability) we had our in.
Why the f*** didn’t he do some high-tariff dives?
That’s what Ireland’s suddenly and instantly knowledgeable and passionate diving community wanted to know.
Has Dingley got a high tariff dive in his locker?
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/philo_coleman/status/765668408222425088
Yes, Oliver Dingley really should have gone for higher tariff dives. #wearealldivingboresnow
— Ronan McGreevy (@RMcGreevy1301) August 16, 2016
Dingley ends round 4 in eighth. Low tarif dive really costly. Might've been better to just go for it with high tarif dives, take a chance?
— Bernadette Prendergast (@bpgbfm) August 16, 2016
Just had a word with myself after criticising Dingley's conservative 4th dive choice. @RTEsport #Armchairexpert #Olympics
— Eoin Ryan (@eoinryan101) August 16, 2016
Why is Dingley doing Junior B dives in the the senior final
— Eamonn Cusack (@EJCusack) August 16, 2016
Does Dingley want a medal? everyone else going for mad hard dives it seems
— TD (@_JTD28) August 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/MarkC__81/status/765669704073613314
https://twitter.com/realrayniland/status/765669910399819777
Why has Dingley more or less given up? Had a chance of medal and turned into Mr Conservative then. Very disappointing. #GoHardOrGoHome #IRL
— James O'Donoghue (@odonoghuejames) August 16, 2016
Why is Dingley doing all low tariff dives. Being left behind #OlympicGames #diving
— Danny Murphy (@dannymurphy1) August 16, 2016
