America's First High Diving Facility

In February, 2021, professional high diver Ellie Smart decided to take a leap of faith and invest everything she had into creating the International High Diving Institute (IHDI). Her vision was to develop the sport of high diving and she set out to build the USA's first high diving platform. In May, this vision became a reality when IHDI partnered with the Utah Olympic Park to construct the United States first high diving training platform. The platform officially opened July 9th, and will be open until late September 2021. The platform has nine take-offs points: 3, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15. 17.5, 20, and 27 meters, making it a world record for the most platforms in a single structure. In addition, it’s the first training facility in the United States to have a platform higher than ten meters. It is also the first in the world to have platforms increasing by 2.5 meters from 3-20 meters, creating the optimal learning environment for complete beginners to pro athletes. This facility is a game change and will help push the sport into the Olympic Games. However, due to the fact it is not yet an Olympic Sport, there is no funding for athletes within the USA. Each athlete must self fund their training to represent Team USA. IHDI is working to keep the platform up and provide training to the current and future generation of divers.  Every donation makes a difference and we need YOUR help to continue developing the sport and supporting the athletes! 


Throughout the summer, the International High Diving Institute will offer the following: 

High Diving Experiences:   In this 1.5 hour introduction course, you will learn about high diving and have the opportunity to progress your skills up to 12.5 meters. 

Camps  : We will offer camps throughout the summer for technical and freestyle athletes of all ages and skill levels. Our camps are for anyone who wants to develop their skills in a controlled environment.

Club Team : Athletes can join our club team and train consistently throughout the summer months. 

High Diving is a rapidly growing, adrenaline pumping, awe-inspiring sport in which the top athletes compete up to five flips and twists in less than 3 seconds. The sport gained popularity in 2009, with the debut of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Since then, FINA adopted the sport in 2013 as an official discipline of diving. Men compete from 27 meters and women compete from 20 meters. In fact, high diving was the first sold out event at the 2019 World Championships and is being considered for inclusion in the 2024 Olympic Games.  

“This facility is not only a game changer for American high divers. It’s a game changer for the sport as a whole. Since I was a little girl, I've dreamt of becoming an Olympic Diver and this facility brings us one step closer to becoming an Olympic Sport,” said IHDI Founder, Ellie Smart. “When I learned how to high dive, I was jumping off cliffs in unsafe environments. I’m excited to create the first facility in the world where people can come in and try high diving in a safe and controlled environment.” Smart is currently ranked the #1 high diver in the USA and self-funded the project to provide training opportunities to athletes around the world. Her passion for high diving and progressing the sport to the next level is unparalleled. 

“The Utah Olympic Park serves as a world-class winter sport training facility for both summer and winter and this partnership with the International High Diving Institute allows us to further extend the multi-sport training uses of our venue, welcoming more athletes to train here in Utah,” said Utah Olympic Park General Manager, Jamie Kimball.


Support USA High Diving :
Due to the fact High Diving is not yet an Olympic Sport there is no funding for athletes within the USA. Each athlete must self fund their training to represent Team USA. Help us provide training to the current and future generation of divers!  Every donation makes a difference and we need YOUR help to make history! 


Let’s dive in! 

-IHDI


International High Diving Website: Click Here 
Social Media @highdivinginstitute  
Email: [email redacted]