Screwed up: Hilarious expressions of divers captured moments after they leap from springboard



From the look on these divers' pained faces, it would be easy to think they had just belly-flopped into the water.

But their eye-rolling grimaces, which range from the outright hilarious to the frankly frightening, were a common sight at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

As the athletes leapt off the springboard, these amazing photos show their fierce level of concentration on getting every move right - even if it did mean gurning all the way to the bottom.



Diving is obviously a hair-raising experience for Jonathan Joernfalk of Sweden who rolls his eyes to heaven as he jumps Russia's Evgeny Kuznetsov feels the pressure as eyebrows and mouth head in opposite directions Ooph... Qin Kai of China looks like he's been punched in the face as he competes in the Men's 3m Springboard preliminary round

Photographers at the 14th FINA World Championships and captured the athlete's expressions as they twisted and turned before hitting the water.

They could regret pulling these faces if the wind changes.

There may only be one gold medal up for grabs, but these divers' expressions are all winners.

Holding on for dear life, Jonathon Joernfalk of Sweden grits his teeth as he competes in the men's 1-metre springboard preliminary in Shanghai

In pain or just concentrating? Evgeny Kuznetsov of Russia remembers to keep his toes well pointed

Muscles bulging and eyebrows stretched, Qin Kai's face is completely distorted as he leaves the springboard Feel the pain: Qin Kai of China apears to be in agony as he dives during the final at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Shanghai



Sayaka Shibusawa of Japan wraps herself up during the preliminary round of the women's 3m springboard diving event

With his clenched teeth and narrowed eyes, Julian Sanchez of Mexico looks determined to get the perfect score in the Men's 3m Springboard round

Top lip flying, Rashid Alharbi of Kuwait holds tight to his legs while he dives in the Men's 3m Springboard round

Qin Kai of China could be in a wind tunnel as he leaps, with puffed up cheeks and mouth distorted

Their strained faces, paired with their acrobatic aquatics, are perhaps more entertaining than their displays.



The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) is the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming.

While they are probably more concerned with their performance than their faces, the divers' might be a little embarrassed at these photos when they've dried off.

Wai Ching Jason Poon of Hong Kong's face is almost as impressive as his acrobatics, as he competes in the Men's 1m Springboard preliminary round

Bottom first: Evgeny Kuznetsov of Russia looks decidedly uncomfortable in this particular pose

Something about... Ukraine's Olena Fedorova, who has a hairy moment during the Women's 3m Springboard semi final

Don't hold your breath: Espen Valhein of Norway looks fit to burst during the Men's 3m Springboard preliminary round

Japan's Sho Sakai tenses every muscle - including the ones in his face - as he dives

Ipsen Kristian of the U.S. opens wide during the preliminary round of the men's 3m springboard

Ilya Zakharov of Russia Federation looks like he's about to sneeze as he dives in