View source for Greg Louganis

{{short description|American Olympic springboard and platform diver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Greg Louganis
| image = Credit Mark-Hanauer 4.jpg
| caption = Louganis in 2022
| fullname = Gregory Efthimios Louganis
| other_interests = Dog Agility, LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Sustainability
| website = {{URL|greglouganis.com|GregLouganis.com}}
| country = {{flag|United States}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|1|29}}
| birth_place = [[El Cajon, California]], U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|Johnny Chaillot|2013|2022|reason=divorce}}
| occupation = Author, Actor, Public Speaker, Athlete
| height = 5 ft 9 in
| event = [[Diving (sport)|Diving]]: 3&nbsp;m, 10&nbsp;m
| club = [[Mission Viejo Nadadores]]
| coach = [[Ron O'Brien (diver)|Ron O'Brien]] (1978-1988)
| retired = 1988
| collegeteam = {{plainlist}}
* [[University of Miami]]
* [[University of California, Irvine]]
{{endplainlist}}
| medaltemplates = <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalCompetition|[[Diving at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Diving at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 3 metre springboard|3m Springboard]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[Diving at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 10 metre platform|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Diving at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 3 metre springboard|3m Springboard]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Diving at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 10 metre platform|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]] | [[Diving at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 10 metre platform|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FINA World Aquatics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1986 World Aquatics Championships|1986 Madrid]] | [[Diving at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships|3m Springboard]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1986 World Aquatics Championships|1986 Madrid]] | [[Diving at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships|10m Platform]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1982 World Aquatics Championships|1982 Guayaquil]] | [[Diving at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships|3m Springboard]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1982 World Aquatics Championships|1982 Guayaquil]] | [[Diving at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships|10m Platform]] }}
{{MedalGold| [[1978 World Aquatics Championships|1978 West Berlin]] | [[Diving at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships|10m Platform]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[Diving at the 1987 Pan American Games|3m Springboard]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[Diving at the 1987 Pan American Games|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1983 Pan American Games|1983 Caracas]] | [[Diving at the 1983 Pan American Games|3m Springboard]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1983 Pan American Games|1983 Caracas]] | [[Diving at the 1983 Pan American Games|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]] | [[Diving at the 1979 Pan American Games|3m Springboard]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]] | [[Diving at the 1979 Pan American Games|10m Platform]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Universiade|Summer Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1983 Summer Universiade|1983 Edmonton]] | [[Diving at the 1983 Summer Universiade|3m Springboard]] }}
{{MedalGold| [[1983 Summer Universiade|1983 Edmonton]] | [[Diving at the 1983 Summer Universiade|10m Platform]] }}
}}

'''Gregory Efthimios Louganis''' ({{IPAc-en|l|uː|ˈ|g|eɪ|n|ɪ|s}};<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Ee28ZUuvpBM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200629030129/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee28ZUuvpBM&t=1m46s Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite episode |title=HIV |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee28ZUuvpBM&t=1m46s |access-date=August 12, 2019 |series=[[Second Opinion (TV series)|Second Opinion]] |season=15 |number=7 |minutes=1 |network=[[WXXI Public Broadcasting Council]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> born January 29, 1960) is an American Olympic [[Diving (sport)|diver]] who won gold medals at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]] and [[1988 Summer Olympics]] on the springboard and platform. He is the only man and the second diver in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Olympic Games. He has been called both "the greatest American diver"<ref name="candid new film">{{cite web |title=Greg Louganis Tells How He Went From Heartthrob To Activist With Candid New Film |url=https://www.queerty.com/greg-louganis-relives-his-journey-from-heartthrob-to-activist-with-candid-new-film-20140714 |first=Heath |last=Daniel |date=July 14, 2014 |publisher=Queerty}}</ref> and "probably the greatest diver in history".<ref name="far from falling">{{cite magazine |title=Greg Louganis: Far From Falling |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/greg-louganis-far-from-falling-20150804 |first=Tracy |last=O'Neill |date=August 4, 2015 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-date=November 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114233907/http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/greg-louganis-far-from-falling-20150804 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Louganis was born in [[El Cajon, California]], and is of [[Samoans|Samoan]] and Swedish descent. His teenage biological parents placed him for adoption when he was eight months old and he was raised in California by his [[adoption|adoptive parents]], Frances and Peter Louganis. His adoptive father was of [[Greek American|Greek]] descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-18/features/8802230686_1_edge-athlete-body/3 |title=Greg Louganis After The Gold |first=Pat |last=Jordan |access-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221214/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-18/features/8802230686_1_edge-athlete-body/3 | publisher=[[Sun Sentinel]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> Louganis reconnected with his biological father, Fouvale Lutu, in 1984. Through the help of DNA tests and his half-siblings, he found his biological mother in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://people.com/celebrity/greg-louganis-adopted-finds-birth-father-exclusive-interview-documentary-video/ |title=Greg Louganis' Adoption Story & Heartwarming Reunion with His Birth Father|newspaper=People }}</ref>

He started taking dance, acrobatics, and gymnastics classes at 18 months, after witnessing his sister's classes and attempting to join in. By the age of three, he was practicing daily and was competing and giving public performances.<ref name="ESPNTheBody"/> For the next few years, he regularly competed and performed at various places including nursing homes and the local naval base. As a child, he was diagnosed with [[asthma]] and [[allergy|allergies]], so to help with the conditions, he was encouraged to continue the dance and gymnastics classes. He also took up trampolining, and at the age of nine began diving lessons after the family got a swimming pool.<ref name="guardianolysrs">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/mar/28/greg-louganis-50-stunning-olympic-moments |title=50 stunning Olympic moments No20: Greg Louganis's perfect dive 1988 |date=March 28, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |author=Simon Burnton}}</ref> He attended [[Santa Ana High School]] in [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], [[Valhalla High School (El Cajon, California)|Valhalla High School]] in [[El Cajon, California|El Cajon]], and [[Mission Viejo High School]] in [[Mission Viejo, California|Mission Viejo]].

In 1978, he subsequently attended the [[University of Miami]], where he majored in drama and continued diving. In 1981, he transferred to the [[University of California, Irvine]], where he graduated with a major in theater and a minor in dance in 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-02-ca-495-story.html |title=Greg Louganis Plunges Into Light Opera : Olympic Diver Plays Prince in 'Cinderella' |first=LIBBY |last=SLATE |date=August 2, 1989 |access-date=November 18, 2018 |via=LA Times}}</ref>

==Diving career==
As a Junior Olympic competitor, Louganis caught the eye of [[Sammy Lee (diver)|Sammy Lee]], two-time Olympic champion, who began coaching him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beard |first=Alison |date=July 1, 2016 |title=Life's Work: An Interview with Greg Louganis |work=Harvard Business Review |url=https://hbr.org/2016/07/lifes-work-an-interview-with-greg-louganis |access-date=September 30, 2021 |issn=0017-8012}}</ref> At 16, Louganis took part in the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in Montreal, where he placed second in the tower event, behind Italian sport legend [[Klaus Dibiasi]]. Two years later, with Dibiasi retired, Louganis won his first world title in the same event with the help of coach [[Ron O'Brien (coach)|Ron O'Brien]] of the Mission Viejo Nadadores.

Louganis was a favorite for two golds in the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] in Moscow, but an [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|American boycott of the games]] prevented him from participating. He was one of 461 athletes to receive a [[List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Congressional Gold Medal]] years later.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caroccioli |first1=Tom |last2=Caroccioli |first2=Jerry |title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games |year=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=Highland Park, IL |isbn=978-0942257403 |pages=243–253}}</ref> Louganis won two titles at the world championships in 1982, where he became the first diver in a major international meeting to get a perfect score of 10 from all seven judges.<ref name="guardianolysrs"/> At the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles Olympics]], with record scores and leads over his opponents, Louganis won gold medals in both the springboard and tower diving events.

He won two more world championship titles in 1986.

At the [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul Olympics]], he struck his head on the springboard during the preliminary rounds, leading to a [[concussion]].<ref name="ESPNTheBody"/> He completed the preliminaries despite his injury. He then earned the highest single score of the qualifying round for his next dive and repeated the dive during the finals, earning the gold medal by a margin of 25 points.<ref name="guardianolysrs"/> In the [[Diving at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 10 metre platform|10 m finals]], he won the gold medal, performing a 3.4 difficulty dive in his last attempt, earning 86.70 points for a total of 638.61, surpassing silver medalist [[Xiong Ni]] by only 1.14 points.<ref name="guardianolysrs"/> His comeback earned him the title of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Wide World of Sports (American TV program)|Wide World of Sports]]'' "Athlete of the Year" for 1988.<ref name="WWOS"/>

===HIV status and head injury===
Six months before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Louganis was diagnosed with HIV and started [[Antiviral drug#Antiretroviral therapy as HIV prevention|antiretrovirals]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Onion |first=Amanda |title=How Greg Louganis' Olympic Diving Accident Forced a Conversation About AIDS |url=https://www.history.com/news/greg-louganis-diving-accident-aids |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=HISTORY |date=June 10, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> After Louganis came out publicly as HIV-positive in 1995, people in and out of the international diving community began to question Louganis's decision not to disclose his HIV status at the time of his head injury during the 1988 Olympics, given that he had bled into a pool that others then dove into. Louganis has stated that, during the ordeal, he was "paralyzed with fear" that he would infect another competitor or the doctor who treated him. Ultimately, no one else was infected.<ref name="public glory" /> John Ward, chief of HIV-AIDS surveillance at the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], noted that the incident posed no risk to others because any blood was highly diluted by the pool water and "[[chlorine]] kills HIV".<ref name="newsweek.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/risk-poolthe-dangers-are-field-180768|title=The Risk Pool:The Dangers Are Off The Field|date=March 5, 1995|website=Newsweek}}</ref> Since skin is an effective barrier to HIV, the only way the virus could enter would be through an open wound; "If the virus just touches the skin, it is unheard of for it to cause infection: the skin has no receptors to bind HIV," explained the [[National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]]' [[Anthony Fauci]] at the time.<ref name="newsweek.com" />

===Endorsement deals===
Louganis got few endorsement deals following his 1984 and 1988 Olympic victories, his one major deal being [[Speedo]], a partnership which lasted until 2007. Some of his fellow athletes blamed [[homophobia]] for his lack of deals, since he had been rumored to be gay even before he came out.<ref>{{cite news |title=Many Endorsement Deals Aren't Coming Out -- Many Gay Athletes Have Learned They Must Stay In The Closet In Order To Land Lucrative Contracts |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940814/1925243/many-endorsement-deals-arent-coming-out----many-gay-athletes-have-learned-they-must-stay-in-the-closet-in-order-to-land-lucrative-contracts |first=Karen |last=Crouse |date=August 14, 1994 |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 13, 2017 |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145812/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940814&slug=1925243 |url-status=live }}</ref> Louganis has stated that he suspects that his sexuality played a part, although he feels that in part he was simply overshadowed in the public imagination by other American Olympians, most notably [[Mary Lou Retton]].<ref name="the wheaties box">{{cite magazine |title=The Wheaties Box and the Why of Celebrity Endorsements |url=https://hbr.org/2016/04/the-wheaties-box-and-the-why-of-celebrity-endorsements |first=Alison |last=Beard |date=April 5, 2016 |magazine=Harvard Business Review}}</ref>

In 2016, Louganis was pictured on boxes of [[Wheaties]] cereal, where prominent American athletes are famously featured, as part of a special "Legends" series that also included 1980s Olympians [[Janet Evans]] and [[Edwin Moses]].<ref name="the wheaties box" /> This occurred approximately a year after a [[Change.org]] petition was launched that requested that he be featured, although [[General Mills]] denied any influence from the petition.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/05/473107455/better-late-than-never-olympic-champion-greg-louganis-gets-his-wheaties-box Better Late Than Never: Olympic Champion Greg Louganis Gets His Wheaties Box] (NPR)</ref>

===Coaching===
In November 2010, Louganis began coaching divers of a wide range of ages and abilities in the SoCal Divers Club in [[Fullerton, California]].<ref>{{citation |last=Crouse |first=Karen |title=Louganis is Back on Board |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 20, 2011 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/sports/21louganis.html}}</ref>

He was a mentor to the U.S. diving team at the London 2012 Olympics and the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.<ref name="ESPNTheBody">{{cite news |last1=Ain |first1=Morty |title='I didn't think I'd see 30,' says Greg Louganis |url=http://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/page/bodygreglouganis/olympic-diver-greg-louganis-living-hiv-staying-fit-56-body-issue-2016 |access-date=August 14, 2016 |work=ESPN The Magazine |issue=Body Issue 2016 |publisher=ESPN |date=June 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>[[Attitude (magazine)]] interview, August 2012</ref>

==Media career==
===Acting===
Louganis had been a theater major in college, and in the late 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in a number of movies, including ''[[Touch Me (film)|Touch Me]]'' in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touch Me |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1112711-touch_me |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

In 1993, he played the role of Darius in an [[Off-Broadway]] production of the play ''[[Jeffrey (play)|Jeffrey]]''.<ref>[https://www.si.com/vault/1993/09/27/129389/greg-louganis Greg Louganis]. Steve Wulf. Sports Illustrated. September 27, 1993. Retrieved February 10, 2017</ref> In 1995, he starred for six weeks in the Off-Broadway production of [[Dan Butler]]'s one man-show about gay life, ''The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me'', taking over from Butler himself. In the play he portrayed 14 different characters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greg Louganis, from platform to boards |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/08/22/Greg-Louganis-from-platform-to-boards/6801809064000/ |publisher=UPI |first=Frederick M. |last=Winship |date=August 22, 1995}}</ref>

In 2008, he appeared in the film ''[[Watercolors (film)|Watercolors]],'' in the role of Coach Brown, a swimming instructor in a high school.

In 2012, he appeared in the ninth episode of the second season of [[IFC (American TV channel)|IFC]]'s comedy series ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]'', playing himself.

===Television===
In September 2000, Louganis appeared on ''[[Hollywood Squares]]'' as a member of famous Olympic gold medalists "Dream Team."

In 2013, Louganis was Dive Master in the celebrity diving show ''[[Splash (American TV series)|Splash]]'' on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and a diving judge on ''[[Celebrity Splash! (Australian TV series)|Celebrity Splash!]]'' on [[Seven Network|Channel 7]] in Australia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2013 |title=I Went to the Set of Splash and Greg Louganis Taught Me How to Dive. Check Out the Video and Photos! |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/i-went-to-the-set-of-splash-an |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Greg Louganis Talks About Diving Into Celebrity Splash |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-greg-louganis-celebrity-splash-1056703/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, he was a diving judge on the second season of the ABC show ''[[Holey Moley]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2020 |title=Greg Louganis, Joey Cifelli Guest Star on ABC Game Show |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/greg-louganis-joey-cifelli-guest-star-on-abc-game-show/ |access-date=July 25, 2020 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Books and video diary===
In 1996, Louganis recounted his story in a bestselling autobiography, ''[[Breaking the Surface]]'', co-written with [[Eric Marcus]]. In the book, Louganis detailed a relationship of domestic abuse and rape as well as teenage depression, and how he began smoking and drinking at a young age.<ref name="guardianolysrs"/> The book spent five weeks at number one on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].

In 1998, Louganis released a [[vlog|video diary]] called ''Looking to the Light'', which picked up where ''Breaking the Surface'' left off.

In 1999, Louganis co-wrote the book ''For the Life of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Having a Dog From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health'' with Betty Sicora Siino.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/For-the-Life-of-Your-Dog/Greg-Louganis/9780671024512 | title=For the Life of Your Dog. A Complete Guide to Having a Dog From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health | date=October 1999 | publisher=Simon & Schuster, Inc. | isbn=978-0-671-02451-2 | access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/chat/transcripts/greg_louganis_chat.html | title=Greg Louganis - A chat with the author of 'For the Life of Your Dog' - A Complete Guide to Having a Dog in Your Life, From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health | publisher=[[CNN]] | year=2001 | access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RlHnGGaisIC&q=For+the+Life+of+Your+Dog+%26+greg+louganis | title=For the Life of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Having a Dog From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health | isbn=978-0-671-02451-2 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | last1=Louganis | first1=Greg | last2=Sikora | first2=Betsy Siino | date=October 1999 | publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref>

==Dog agility competitions==
After retiring from diving, Louganis began to compete in [[dog agility]] competitions; he has said that being around the dogs gave him "a sense of security, company and unconditional love".<ref name="candid new film" /> His dogs have included Dr. Schivago; Captain Woof Blitzer; Nipper and son, Dobby, both champion [[Jack Russell terrier]]s; Gryff (Gryffindor), a [[border collie]]; and Hedwig, a [[Pumi dog|Hungarian Pumi]]. Nipper was named for the [[Nipper|RCA dog]], while Gryff, Dobby and Hedwig were named for [[Harry Potter]] characters, as Louganis is a self-described "huge Harry Potter fan."<ref>[http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=5221853 Greg Louganis back in the pool to help others] Sandra Hewitt. ESPN. May 26, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.popsugar.com/pets/Greg-Louganis-Loves-Dogs-Harry-Potter-LINK-Eye-7216864 Greg Louganis Loves Dogs and Harry Potter: In the LINK of an Eye] People Pets. Popsugar. February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/9456268/London-2012-Olympics-diving-champion-Greg-Louganis-on-the-Games-Harry-Potter-and-meeting-Michelle-Obama.html London 2012 Olympics: diving champion Greg Louganis on the Games, Harry Potter and meeting Michelle Obama] Greg Louganis. The Telegraph. August 7, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2017.</ref><ref name=zeigler>{{citation |last=Zeigler |first=Mark |title=Life for Louganis more about dogs than diving |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union Tribune]] |date=June 13, 2009 |url=http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/13/1n13louganis00465-life-louganis-more-about-dogs-di/ |access-date=June 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616074343/http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/13/1n13louganis00465-life-louganis-more-about-dogs-di/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic Superstars: Where Are they Now? {{!}} Maxim|url = http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/sports/article/olympic-superstars-where-are-they-now|website = www.maxim.com| date=July 6, 2012 |access-date = August 29, 2015}}</ref>

==Activism==
[[File:25th RW Anniversary-127 (24879401184) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Louganis in 2016 at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary for the passage of the [[Ryan White CARE Act]], which improved the quality and availability of healthcare for individuals and families with HIV/AIDS]]
Louganis is a gay rights activist,<ref>[https://www.queerty.com/greg-louganis-relives-his-journey-from-heartthrob-to-activist-with-candid-new-film-20140714 Greg Louganis Tells How He Went From Heartthrob To Activist With Candid New Film] Heath Daniels. Queerty. July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2016</ref><ref>[http://greglouganis.com/greg-louganis-champion-survivor-activist-mentor/ Greg Louganis: Champion, Survivor, Activist, Mentor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123201944/http://greglouganis.com/greg-louganis-champion-survivor-activist-mentor/ |date=November 23, 2016 }} GregLouganis.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://sports.yahoo.com/news/greg-louganis-champion-survivor-activist-mentor-135526697.html Greg Louganis: Champion, survivor, activist, mentor] Jackie Bamberger. Yahoo Sports. August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016</ref> as well as an HIV awareness advocate. He has worked frequently with the [[Human Rights Campaign]] to defend the civil liberties of the LGBT community and people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Greg-Louganis.html |title=''Ability Magazine: Greg Louganis Interview"'' (2010) |access-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>

In the October/November 2010 issue of ''ABILITY'' Magazine, Louganis stated that the "[[Don't Ask, Don't Tell]]" policy was "absurd," "unconstitutional," and a "witch-hunt." He added that "gay men and women have been serving this country for years ... [it's] basically encouraging people who are serving our country to lie to each other."<ref name=mackin>{{citation |last=Cooper |first=Chet |title=Don't Ask(We Asked), Don't Tell(We Told) |magazine=[[ABILITY Magazine]] |date=October–November 2010 |url=http://abilitymagazine.com/Greg-Louganis.html}}</ref>

Louganis is on the board of directors to the USA-based chapter of the charitable foundation of [[Princess Charlene of Monaco]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Foundation - Princess Charlene of Monaco foundation |url=http://www.pcmfusa.org/en/the-foundation |date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181226111622/http://www.pcmfusa.org/en/the-foundation |archive-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref>

In 2023, it was reported that Louganis was auctioning three of his five Olympic medals in an effort to fund the [[Damien Center]], Indiana's oldest and largest AIDS services center. "The medals, they're in the history books," he said. "Instead of holding on to them, I'm aiming to share my piece of Olympic history with collectors; together, we can help the Damien Center and its community to grow and thrive."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsports.com/2023/3/10/23634105/greg-louganis-auction-olympic-medals-damian-hiv-service-center/|title=Greg Louganis auctioning 3 of his Olympic medals to help AIDS services center|first=Cyd|last=Zeigler}}</ref> Instead, Louganis auctioned the medals to fund his retirement to [[Panama]].<ref>{{cite web | last1=Merola | first1=Lauren | title=U.S. Olympic legend Greg Louganis sells medals to help fund move to Panama: 'I needed the money' | work=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6593775/2025/09/02/greg-louganis-olympic-medal-sale-us-panama-move/ }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Greg Louganis 1995.jpg|thumb|Louganis in 1995]]
From 1983 to 1989, Louganis was involved romantically with his manager, R. James "Jim" Babbitt. Louganis has described the relationship as abusive, saying that, at one point in 1983, Babbitt raped him at knife point.<ref name="public glory">{{cite magazine |title=Public Glory, Secret Agony |url=http://www.newsweek.com/public-glory-secret-agony-180724 |magazine=Newsweek |date=March 5, 1995}}</ref> Louganis also accused Babbitt of taking 80 percent of his earnings.<ref name="ex-agent">{{cite news |title=Louganis, Ex-Agent in Dispute : Olympic Diver Says in Court Papers He Feared for His Life |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-29-sp-617-story.html |date=March 29, 1989 |first=Grahame L. |last=Jones |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Six months before the 1988 Olympics, Louganis was diagnosed with HIV; he had contracted the virus from Babbitt.<ref name="public glory" /> His doctor placed him on the [[antiretroviral]] drug [[Zidovudine|AZT]], which he took every four hours round the clock.<ref name="public glory" /> In 1989, Louganis obtained a [[restraining order]] against Babbitt.<ref name="ex-agent" /> Babbitt died of AIDS in 1990.<ref name="public glory" />

When Louganis turned 33, in 1993, he agreed to gather friends and family for a birthday party, but one that he envisioned as a final goodbye, as he was in failing health and thought he would soon die of AIDS.<ref name="far from falling" /> But, with treatment, he kept going and, in 1994, at the opening ceremony at that year's [[Gay Games]], Louganis came out publicly as gay in a pre-taped announcement, at the encouragement of the event's organizers.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Gay Games: A History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mm18AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT227 |first=Caroline |last=Symons |publisher=Routledge |year=2010 |isbn=9781134027897}}</ref> Even before then, however, he led a life that has been described as "openly gay."<ref name="public glory" /> In 1995, around the time of the release of his memoir, ''[[Breaking the Surface]]'', Louganis revealed his HIV status in an interview with [[Barbara Walters]], speaking openly, for the first time, about being both gay and HIV-positive.<ref name="ESPNTheBody" />

In June 2013, Louganis announced, in ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, his engagement to his partner, paralegal Johnny Chaillot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/greg-louganis-engaged-to-johnny-chaillot/ |title=Greg Louganis Engaged to Johnny Chaillot |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> The two were married on October 12, 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/greg-louganis-marries-johnny-chaillot/ |title=Greg Louganis Marries Johnny Chaillot |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> but on June 18, 2021, Louganis revealed on [[Instagram]] that he and Chaillot were ending their marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1281697/olympian-greg-louganis-and-johnny-chaillot-split-after-8-years-of-marriage |title=Olympian Greg Louganis and Johnny Chaillot Split After 8 Years of Marriage |date=June 19, 2021 |access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

As a follow-up to the success of the book, Canadian television and film director [[Steven Hilliard Stern]] directed ''[[Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story]]'' in 1997, starring [[Mario Lopez]] as Louganis, with Louganis also appearing in certain scenes of the [[television film]] and as [[narrator]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=O'Neill |first=Tracy |date=2015-08-04 |title=Greg Louganis: Far From Falling |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/greg-louganis-far-from-falling-35613/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Louganis also produced a video diary called ''Looking To the Light'', which picked up where ''Breaking the Surface'' left off.{{Cn|date=January 2024}}

Actor [[Michael Fassbender]] took Louganis's gait and mannerisms as inspiration for his portrayal of [[David 8|an advanced humanoid robot]] in the 2012 film ''[[Prometheus (2012 film)|Prometheus]]'',<ref name="Sequel2">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Trumbore |title=WonderCon 2012: Prometheus Panel Recap Featuring Sir Ridley Scott and Damon Lindelof |url=https://collider.com/prometheus-wondercon/ |publisher=Collider.com |date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621055323/http://collider.com/prometheus-wondercon/152633 |url-status=live }}</ref> stating that "Louganis was my first inspiration. I figured that I'd sort of base my physicality roughly around him, and then it kind of went from there."<ref name="CastFass4">{{cite web |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/11/17/michael-fassbender-prometheus-greg-louganis/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118182944/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/11/17/michael-fassbender-prometheus-greg-louganis/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 18, 2011 |title=Michael Fassbender's 'Prometheus' Character Inspired By... Greg Louganis? |last=Sullivan |first=Kevin |publisher=MTV Movies Blog |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=December 18, 2011}}</ref>

Louganis was the subject of the documentary ''Back on Board'' which aired on HBO on August 4, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hbo.com/sports/back-on-board-greg-louganis/video/back-on-board-greg-louganis-promo.html?autoplay=true |title=Back on Board: Greg Louganis |website=HBO |access-date=August 3, 2015 |archive-date=June 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625032043/http://www.hbo.com/sports/back-on-board-greg-louganis/video/back-on-board-greg-louganis-promo.html?autoplay=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
[[File:Stamps of Azerbaijan, 1996-388.jpg|thumb|Azerbaijani postage stamp, 1996]]

* In 1984, Louganis received the [[James E. Sullivan Award]] from the [[Amateur Athletic Union]] (AAU) as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
* In 1988, he was awarded "Athlete of the Year" by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Wide World of Sports (American TV program)|Wide World of Sports]]''.<ref name="WWOS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/|title=ESPN - Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
* In 1989, he was nominated for "Best Male Athlete" by the [[1989 Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]].
* In 1991, Greg was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
* In June 2013, Louganis was inducted into the [[California Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://californiasportshalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/cshof-2013-press-release.pdf |title=CALIFORNIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME CELEBRATES. CLASS OF 2013. INDUCTION CEREMONY. SUNDAY, JUNE 9/ Press release. California Sports Hall of Fame. June 9, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2017. |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> He was among the first class of inductees into the [[National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame]] on August 2, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2013/06/18/national-gay-lesbian-sports-hall-fame-chicago |title=National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class Announced |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
* In April 2015, Louganis was presented the Bonham Centre Award from The Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, [[University of Toronto]], for his contributions to the advancement and education of issues around sexual identification.<ref>http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3e2108983ef299ccbbc3502ca&id=c4f7a83950, April 13, 2015</ref>
* In July 2015, he was a torch bearer for the [[2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/espnradio/losangeles/play/_/id/13235992 |title=Max & Marcellus: [hr1] |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
* In January 2017, he was a Grand Marshal of the [[Rose Parade]] in Pasadena, California.<ref>[https://www.tournamentofroses.com/news/janet-evans-allyson-felix-and-greg-louganis-selected-2017-tournament-roses-grand-marshals Janet Evans, Allyson Felix and Greg Louganis Selected as 2017 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228124453/https://www.tournamentofroses.com/news/janet-evans-allyson-felix-and-greg-louganis-selected-2017-tournament-roses-grand-marshals |date=December 28, 2016 }}, Tournament of Roses Association, November 3, 2016</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* 1996 – ''[[Breaking the Surface]]''
* 1999 – ''For the Life of Your Dog''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Louganis |first=Greg |title=For the life of your dog : a complete guide to having a dog in your life, from adoption and birth through sickness and health |date=1999 |publisher=Pocket Books |others=Betsy Sora Siino |isbn=0-671-02450-7 |location=New York |oclc=40693868}}</ref>

==Filmography==
* ''Dirty Laundry'' (1987) as Larry
* ''Inside Out III'' (1992) as Max in the segment "The Wet Dream"
* ''[[D2: The Mighty Ducks]]'' (1994) as himself 
* ''[[It's My Party (film)|It's My Party]]'' (1996) as Dan Zuma
* ''[[Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Touch Me (film)|Touch Me]]'' (1997) as David
* ''Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal'' (episode: ''"Broken Record"'') (1997 TV movie) as Coach Hill
* ''[[Watercolors (film)|Watercolors]]'' (2008) as Coach Brown
* ''[[30 for 30]]: "Tim Richmond: To the Limit"'' (2010)
* ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]'', season 2, episode 9 (2012) as himself
* ''[[Splash (U.S. TV series)|Splash]]'' (2013) as himself
* ''[[Celebrity Splash! (Australian TV series)|Celebrity Splash!]]'' (2013) as himself
* ''Back on Board: Greg Louganis'' (2014)
* ''Sabre Dance'' (2015) as Salvador Dalí
* ''[[Entourage (film)|Entourage]]'' (2015) as a fictional version of himself
* ''30 for 30: Thicker than Water'' (2015)

==See also==
{{Portal|California|LGBTQ|Olympic Games}}
* [[World Fit]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}} 
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=greg-louganis|old_id=Greg-Louganis|archive=20230611201320}}
* {{Olympics.com|gregory-louganis|Gregory Louganis|org_archive=20110315001131}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528001108/http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Conference2007_Louganis |date=May 28, 2007 |title=Greg Louganis to keynote DBSA 2007 National Conference}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Diving Men 3 Metre Springboard}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Men Diving 10 metre Platform}}
{{Footer World Champions 3m Springboard Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Platform Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Diving Champions 3m Springboard Men}}
{{Footer Pan American Diving Champions Platform Men}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions 3m Springboard Men}}
{{Footer Universiade Champions Platform Men}}
{{Sullivan Award winners}}

{{Authority control}}

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