Greg Louganis is widely regarded as the greatest diver in history. He is the only male to have won gold medals on both the 3 meter springboard and the 10 meter platform in consecutive Olympic Games, achieving this feat in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.
Early Life:
Greg was adopted by Frances and Peter Louganis at the age of 9 months. He was teased and bullied as a child for his dark skin, which he inherited from his Samoan father, and for his learning "differences." He found solace in sports, particularly gymnastics, and began competing at the age of 11.
In 1968, Greg's mother took him to diving practice to help him find a new interest. He initially struggled, but eventually discovered a talent for the sport. At the age of 11, he entered the national Junior Olympics, where he tied for second place.
First Olympics: 1976 Montreal, silver medal, platform (16 years old)
Greg qualified for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games at the age of 16, where he won a silver medal on the 10 meter platform. He was one of the many athletes affected by the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games, which was widely expected to be his year to win gold medals.
University Years:
Greg attended the University of Miami on a full diving scholarship, where he studied theater as part of the BFA program. In 1980, he transferred to UC Irvine to dive with coach Ron O'Brien, graduating in 1983 with a major in drama and a minor in dance.
Olympic Champion: Securing his place in history
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Greg became the second man in the history of the sport to win gold medals in both the springboard and platform events, the first being Pete Desjardins in 1928.
By 1988, Greg's physique had changed, and he was twice as old as his competition on the Chinese diving team. He had also learned he was HIV-positive and was struggling with the physical and emotional toll of his status. Despite this, he continued to compete and won gold in the men's three-meter springboard event.
Coming out and HIV
In 1995, Greg courageously announced that he was gay and HIV-positive on Barbara Walters' 20/20 and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He went on to co-author his autobiography, Breaking the Surface, which detailed his struggles.
Freed from the secrets he'd carried through his life, Greg pursued his other great loves - animals and acting. He has appeared in eight films, including narrating a dramatization of Breaking the Surface, starring Mario Lopez. He has also appeared in numerous television shows and been interviewed countless times.
Champion for all time
In 2012, Greg is living a busy life, filling many roles, including mentoring the 2012 U.S. Olympic diving team, acting as Vice President for the U.S. Olympian & Paralympian Association, traveling the world as a judge for the Red Bull Cliff Diving Tour, running training camps, and authoring a new book. He is also involved in various philanthropic organizations, including those dealing with animals, diversity, learning differences, and HIV/AIDS.
