Spectators at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, Qatar were witness to an extraordinary display: a 100-year-old Iranian named Taghi Askar took a leap from the 3-meter springboard just before the women’s competition began.
However, there is more to this story than meets the eye. Askar is not just an ordinary elderly man plucked from the crowd and thrown off a diving board. He is, in fact, a renowned figure in the world of diving.
Nearly seven decades prior to his dive in Qatar, Askar participated in the inaugural Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951. At that time, the city was still relatively new. He achieved two medals at those games, and prior to his return to the sport as a centenarian, Askar reminisced about Iran’s former dominance in diving.
“When I first attended the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, diving in Iran was at an exceptional level and I won two medals,” Askar shared with World Aquatics.
“However, when the games were held in Tehran in 1974, Chinese swimmers had entered this beautiful sport and made significant improvements. Unfortunately, we were unable to catch up with them as we remained at the same level we started at.”
Truly remarkable. This is an incredible story of a trailblazing athlete. Here is an amateur video capturing the dive:
I jest…
Now, here is a professionally recorded video of the actual dive:
First and foremost, Askar appears to be in remarkable shape for a centenarian.
People are astounded by his willingness to attempt the dive. But let’s not just focus on the dive itself; how about his courage to wear a Speedo in front of such a crowd at the age of 100?
I am 28 and in decent physical condition (well, not exactly, but not too bad for someone who spends their entire day sitting at a computer), and even I would not dare to do that.
They would hand me a Speedo and I would probably say, “Can I wear swim trunks instead… and maybe keep my shirt on?”
The fact that Askar managed to complete the dive is impressive enough, but I must admit: it is fortunate that this was an exhibition dive, as it was not the finest performance of his career.
I watch diving for a few days every four years when the Summer Olympics come around, so I believe I have some knowledge about the sport. The primary measure of a successful dive is the amount of splash created. Ideally, you want as little splash as possible.
Unfortunately, that was not the case with Askar’s dive. In fact, I hope the individuals in the front row were prepared with ponchos, as if they were sitting in the splash zone at SeaWorld.
It may not have been as graceful as Greg Louganis’ flawless entry into the pool, but it remains an impressive feat for someone who retired from competitive diving 59 years ago.
Indeed, Askar has not taken part in a competitive dive since before the first moon landing.
Jokes aside, congratulations to Taghi Askar for this remarkable achievement. He is truly a legend.
According to the Source outkick.com