With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics around the corner, there’s bound to be an interest in sports manga about Olympic hopefuls. Dive!! is one such title, and you can read on for the review of Volume 3. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)
Back Cover Blurb
The Japanese delegates for the Tokyo Olympics have been selected…and Youichi’s gotten the ticket of his dreams! When the motives behind the JASF’s premature decision come to light, though, Youichi is completely thrown off his game. But that won’t stop him! Once he’s back on his feet, determined to take back the Olympics on his own terms, how might his actions turn the tides?! See what the future holds for the boys of MDC in this final volume of DIVE!!
The Review
The first volume mostly focused on Tomoki, and the second volume showed Okitsu’s struggles. Now the third volume delves into Youichi’s issues. Up till now, he’s been the unshakable champ, the elite paragon the others measure themselves against. So when the JASF decides to choose its Olympic team without holding a qualifying meet and Youichi gets selected, their choice seems more than reasonable. After all, he has a winning track record to justify his place on the team.
However, Youichi’s unhappy at how the decision was made. Even though it’s his dream to compete in the Olympics, he wants it on his terms. His frustration gets to the point of interfering with his diving, and he ultimately throws his Olympic spot back at the adults who handed it to him.
The Youichi arc is part rebellion against the machine controlling Olympic athletes, part rebellion against the father who treats him as a component of his coaching career. While Youichi’s resentment against the adults using him is definitely relatable, the way he self-destructs goes off the deep end. Much like Tomoki’s depression over Miu, it feels like drama for drama’s sake.
At any rate, Youichi’s rejection of the JASF’s grand plan allows for a final competition among the divers in this series and opens the door for a major shakeup in rankings. The MDC boys, including side character Reiji, get to show how they’ve progressed with their skills even as their stories get wrapped up. While I’m not averse to underdogs, I didn’t find this sports manga’s ultimate conclusion particularly satisfying, though that’s probably due to a lack of empathy with the cast.
As with the previous volume, this volume covers the same territory of the corresponding Dive!! anime episodes. However, unlike the anime, the manga carries the qualifying meet till the very end. In addition, it includes details the anime glossed over as well as a post-competition celebration with Tomo, Reiji, and Ryou. So if you’re a fan of the anime, this volume might be worth picking up for those extras.
Extras include the first four pages in color and afterword.
In Summary
Tomo and Okitsu have had problems, and now Youichi has them, too. While his resentment toward his father is easy to relate to, the dilemma of having an Olympic spot fall in his lap is less so. At any rate, this last volume has a final barrage of dynamic diving scenes set in the grand competition of Olympic qualifiers. But even though a place on the Olympic team is at stake, the meet is less about the fight for the top and more about the MDC boys overcoming their individual challenges.
First published at the Fandom Post.
Keeping It In Canon ...mostly 