Competition took place on 5- and 10-metre platforms, with only four dives, all compulsory, two on the 5-metre platform and two on the 10-metre platform. There were only seven competitors, with the medals swept by United States’ divers. Dorothy Poynton won gold, after winning a silver on the springboard at the 1928 Olympics. She would return to the 1936 Olympics and defend her title on the platform and add a fourth Olympic medal, a bronze, on the springboard. Silver medalist Georgia Coleman repeated her performance at the 1928 Olympics, and also won a gold in 1932 on springboard. This was the only Olympic appearance for the bronze medalist, Marion Roper.