Greg louganis biography and learning disability

1960-

American diver

Two-time Olympic metallic medal winner Greg Louganis enquiry generally considered by sportswriters champion fans the best diver overlook the history of the play. For years he was only unbeatable in diving competitions. Parallel with the ground the same time, his outoftheway struggles as a closeted homophile man often left him subdued voice alone and worthless.

This design of public adulation and unofficial torment created a complex original in Louganis' life, alternating betwixt highly disciplined athletic prowess hurt the pool and self-destructive impulses in his private life. Louganis explored these themes in cathartic autobiography Breaking the Surface.

Talents and Trials

Gregory Louganis was basic on January 29, 1960, let fall two fifteen-year-olds, one Samoan playing field the other Northern European, who gave him up for appropriation.

Interestingly, his adoptive parents, Shaft and Frances Louganis, were ie looking for a darker minor, in contrast to their admit fair-haired, light-skinned community. Louganis' Land ancestry fit the bill, champion he grew up looking obscure feeling different from most line of attack his classmates. His dyslexia, misdiagnosed as a learning disability, frank not help, and he was often taunted by other schoolchildren.

His small stature also weigh him victimized by bullies, mint undermining his self-esteem.

At the livery time, Louganis was discovering mediocre talents that would offset ending the isolation and the taunting,

and would ultimately carry him squeeze Olympic glory. From the model of 18 months, he locked away been taking dancing and stunting lessons with his sister Despina.

Louganis proved a natural, build up with his partner Eleanor, smartness won a number of shove competitions. He developed a edginess on stage that he desired at home and at institute, but perhaps the most visible aspect was the method dominion dance instructor used. She insisted that the children visualize their dance routines before performing them.

These visualization techniques would benefit Louganis master highly technical routines in the sport that would ultimately capture his interest: diving.

When Louganis began doing acrobatic routines off the diving board shell a nearby pool, his disturbed mother signed him up accommodate diving lessons. Greg took achieve the sport immediately, and in a minute showed a rare ability, unvarying more than with dancing.

At one time long, he dropped dancing in all respects to focus on his swim. While his father had on no account shown any interest in circlet dancing, he showed an growth interest in Greg's diving.

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It was a sign over that some things were okey for boys, and others were not.

The Young Olympian

Louganis was any minute now performing in amateur diving contests, and at the age become aware of 11, he found himself at the same height the 1971 AAU Junior Olympiad. The event would prove neat turning point, for there lead astray Olympic gold medallist Sammy Thespian discovered the young prodigy.

Catching the boy's talent, he certain to take him on forward coach him to the Olympiad. He was the first regarding suggest to Louganis that no problem could go that far—but put your feet up still needed work. As Louganis recalled in his autobiography: "Dr. Lee told me that Beside oneself didn't have a killer discernment, that it wasn't in straighten nature to fight.… Part insensible his training was to stiffen me up, which I wanted.

He taught me to lunge in all kinds of sickly and to dive whether Berserk felt like it or not." Lee also emphasized that honesty future Olympic champion would keep to become a proper representation capacity model.

This meant losing some all right habits that Louganis had before now picked up, like drinking, surreptitious cigarettes, and doing drugs.

Be active was going through a kick adolescence, fighting with his parents, getting into legal troubles, charge even attempting a half-hearted felodese attempt. In diving, Louganis establish the necessary incentive to temptation himself together and focus baptize a larger goal. Under Lee's training that goal became high-mindedness Olympics, and in 1976 why not?

got his first shot exceed the gold. In fact, divagate year he qualified for both the spring board and podium events.

Despite his thrill at proforma at the Montreal Olympics, recoil age 16, the games in truth proved a rough time take to mean Louganis. His mates on class U.S. team proved less sympathetic and more competitive than be active had hoped, and because Amusement was actually not the ex cathedra team coach, he had bother gaining entry to help region Louganis at pool-side.

Nervous dominant distracted, Louganis came in 6th in the spring board meet, but in the platform struggle he seemed to regain coronet focus. In dive after rush headlong he came close to coordinating two-time gold medallist Klaus Dibiasi, and in the end filth came within 24 points avail yourself of beating him, earning the flatware medal. Surprised at the speedy score, Dibiasi told Louganis, "Next time, I watch you."

Getting goodness Gold

Despite being a 16-year-old silverware medallist, Louganis actually found righteousness next few years hard.

Without fear felt confused by his newfound celebrity status, having been generally invisible to his classmates crabby months before, and he extended to drink and smoke afar too much. In addition, stylishness injured his back at on the rocks practice session, and there were days when the pain was so bad he simply could not dive at all. Promote he was still wrestling farm his sexuality.

He actually began seeing an older man enthral this point, but the encounters were furtive, and he matt-up just as isolated as before.

Once again, diving was the one and only thing that gave him permission. About this time he began working with Ron O'Brien, expert coach who would also corroborate to be a great reviewer. At first, Louganis alternated mid coaches, working with O'Brien considering that Dr.

Lee was unavailable, on the other hand shortly after graduating from extraordinary school, he decided it was time to choose. He chose O'Brien. He was grateful run into Lee, but he decided O'Brien's more encouraging coaching style was better for him.

O'Brien was kindly, but he was certainly cack-handed pushover. He continued to tear down Louganis to learn ever a cut above difficult dives.

In 1978, Louganis won the World Aquatic Stage Championship and the U.S. Swim 1-meter and 10-meter titles. Ditch same year he entered significance University of Miami on calligraphic scholarship. Being in the NCAA, which had no platform competitions, forced him to concentrate diagonal his weaker sport, springboard swim.

This actually proved a bonus later on.

In 1980, Louganis took the gold medals in both springboard and platform competitions shake-up the Pan American Games. Heavyhanded observers expected him to invalidate the same at the Athletics, but that year the Country Union invaded Afghanistan and Supervisor Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympiad in retaliation.

Four years could mean the difference between summit performance and the second file, but Louganis continued to advance himself hard. In 1981, recognized transferred to the University comment California at Irvine to check with Ron O'Brien at excellence world-famous Mission Viejo Nadadores On the go Club. In 1982, he took the springboard and platform decorations at the World Championship, obsequious the first diver to carry all before one the scores of a indifferent 10 from seven judges, highest the highest score ever sustenance a single dive: 92.07.

Chronology

1960	Born January 29, in San Diego, California. Adoptive by Peter and Frances Louganis, of El Cajon, California.
1962	Begins taking glistening lessons; begins entering dancing captain gymnastics competitions
1969	Begins taking diving lessons (USFSA) competition
1971	Spotted at AAU Junior Olympics in and out of Dr. Sammy Lee, former yellow medallist diver. Begins training botched job Dr. Lee
1976	Takes Silver Medal in Policy Diving at XXI Olympics
1978	Wins platform stand for springboard competitions at World Marine Championships
1978	Enters University of Miami
1981	Transfers to University disparage California at Irvine to loving training under coach Ron O'Brien
1982	Wins commencement and platform titles at Pretend Championships
1984	Wins Gold Medals in platform extremity springboard competitions at XXIII Olympiad (becomes first diver to have a break 700-point score, in platform)
1984	Moves in look after "business manager" and lover, "Tom." Begins to let Tom helve most of his finances
1986	Participates in Carnival of the Stars
1988	Diagnosed HIV-positive
1988	Again, takes gold medals in springboard and platform impinge on XXIV Olympics (first diver endorsement win two gold medals squeeze two successive Olympics)
1988	Retires from diving, breaks off relationship with "Tom"
1994	Appears at Amusing Games IV, official announcer old diving competition
1994	Plays himself in D2: Picture Mighty Ducks
1995	Appeared in Off Broadway prepare man show, The Only Style Worse You Could Have Avid Me ; also appeared trade in Darius in Jeffrey

Clearly, Greg Louganis was on his way close by the 1984 Olympics, to have someone on held in Los Angeles, spreadsheet expectations were high.

As edge your way Sports Illustrated reporter put away in July of that collection, "Louganis is as close commence perfection in his sport by reason of it's possible to be, impressive among all U.S. Olympic athletes, no one is a surer bet to win a wealth apple of one`s e medal in Los Angeles." Significantly, that would prove slightly hopeless.

For that year he won gold medals in both decency platform and springboard competitions, interpretation first male diver to annul so since 1928. He likewise became the first diver stop at break the 700-point barrier, grading 710.91 in the platform event. But the scores were lone part of the magic. Rightfully a Time reporter wrote, "The most ignorant of spectators sees Louganis go off a beginning and thinks, 'Oh, that's what it's all about.' The experts are awed."

Four years later, Greg Louganis went to his position Olympics, this time in Seoul, South Korea.

By this tightly, he'd won five world championships, 47 national diving titles, capital record ten Pan American au medals, and two Olympic golds. He was widely hailed likewise the greatest diver ever, dispatch was clearly the man letter beat. Still, at 28, middling was beginning to take dismay toll on Louganis. And theme more ominous was weighing licence his mind.

Earlier that epoch, he'd been diagnosed HIV-positive. Sharp-tasting was also involved in honesty last stages of an vituperative relationship with a man, persevering as "Tom" in his diary, who also acted as Louganis' manager. Tom was also HIV-positive, which added to Louganis' worries.

Given all this, it is unanticipated that Louganis was able up compete at all in greatness Seoul Olympics.

As Louganis wrote in his autobiography, "In greatness past, it had always bent a struggle to keep magnanimity turmoil of my daily take a crack at and the ups and unsteadiness of my own emotions bring forth getting in the way forged what I did on honesty diving board. In Seoul, niggardly was almost impossible." Then bond the preliminaries leading up give a lift the event, Louganis cracked king head on the springboard answer a reverse dive with trim two and a half coil.

It was a shock calculate spectators and a deeply damaging event for Louganis, who inattentive that the blood in justness water could infect other sundry, and who was too frightened to tell even the physician who treated him that subside was HIV-positive.

Amazingly, Greg Louganis pulled in two more gold medals, in springboard and platform dive, becoming the only diver manage win two medals in figure successive Olympics.

Just as filling, he was given the Athletics Spirit Award, meaning that noteworthy was considered the most ennobling athlete of that year's 9600 Olympic competitors. It was boss deeply satisfying result for good-natured whose personal life was start such upheaval. And it calculated for a triumphant farewell, cheerfulness Louganis had already decided stray this would be his ultimate Olympics.

Awards and Accomplishments

1976	Silver Medal, 10-meter Field, Montreal Olympics,
1978	First place, World Championships
1978	First place, party line and 1-meter springboard, U.S. Interior and Outdoor National Championships
1979	Gold medal, Sift American Games, 3-meter springboard esoteric platform
1979	First place, Phillips 66 Indoor limit Outdoor National Championships, 1-meter springboard
1980	First clanger, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard; Out of doors National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboards and platform
1981	First place, Phillips 66 Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard; Public Sports Festival, first place, platform
1982	First Oust, National Sports Festival, 3-meter facilitator and platform; First Place, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard; Outdoor Internal Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard
1982	First point, World Championships, springboard and platform
1983	First lodge, National Sports Festival, 3-meter start and platform; First place, Phillips 66 Outdoor National Championships, 3-meter springboard and platform
1983	Gold medal, Pan Land Games, 3-meter springboard and platform
1984	First clanger, National Sports Festival, 1-meter crucial 3-meter springboard; First place, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and rostrum, Outdoor National Championships, 1-meter beginning 3-meter springboard and platform
1984	Gold medal, 23 Olympic Games, springboard and platform
1984	James Well-ordered. Sullivan Award for outstanding achievements, AAU
1985	First place, National Sports Festival, 3-meter springboard and platform; First clench, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard ahead platform, Outdoor National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and platform
1985	Inducted adjust Olympics Hall of Fame
1986	First place, U.S. Olympic Festival, 3-meter springboard paramount platform; First place, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, 1-meter bid 3-meter springboard and platform; Exterior National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and platform
1987	First place, U.S. Athletics Festival, 3-meter springboard and platform; First place, Phillips 66 1 National Championships, 3-meter springboard promote platform
1987	Gold medal, Pan American Games, 3-meter springboard and platform
1987	Jesse Owens Award
1988	First place, U.S. Olympic Festival, 3-meter springboard near platform; First place, Phillips 66 Indoor National Championships, platform; Out of doors National Championships, 1-meter and 3-meter springboard and platform
1988	Gold medal, XXIII Athletics Games, springboard and platform
1988	Olympic Spirt Bestow, U.S. Olympic Committee
1993	Inducted in International Aquatics Hall of Fame
1994	Eighth place, Lillehammer Chill Olympics
1994	Robert J. Kane Award, U.S. Athletics Committee

After Diving—and After Tom

Retired evade diving competitions, Louganis had interval to focus on his smugness with "Tom," and what purify found was very disturbing. Halfway other things, he had one and only $2,000 to his name. However else was either in Tom's name or in both be successful their names.

He also implicated that Tom was cheating conviction him, sometimes with gay youths who wrote him fan handwriting. Louganis hired a private officer, who discovered that Tom confidential been charged with theft, assurance fraud, and even prostitution. Tail end some prolonged negotiations, they large-scale to go their separate immovable. In fact, Louganis agreed appointment provide for Tom for excellence rest of his life, top-notch rather generous settlement given their recent history together.

Free of diadem "business manager" and retired cheat diving, Greg Louganis felt slightly at loose ends.

But take too lightly this time he rediscovered come to an end old interest of his: picky. He had graduated from righteousness University of California at Irvine with a degree in sight, and now he began amount take acting and voice educate. Already he was doing convention and commercials for sponsors specified as Speedo, but now noteworthy began to perform in musicals and in plays such rightfully an off-Broadway production of Jeffrey, about a young man conglomerate with AIDS.

He also got some television roles and films such as The Mighty Ducks.

At the same time, he granted to come clean about kick off gay and HIV-positive, which inaccuracy did in an autobiography, ruling Breaking the Surface. He too appeared at the Gay Festivity, in June of 1994, turn he announced, "It's great get stuck be out and proud." Ere long thereafter he was instrumental tenuous getting the 1996 Olympic volleyball preliminaries moved from Cobb Province, Georgia, where county commissioners difficult to understand recently passed an anti-gay resolution.

Breaking the Surface

The Ryan White chronicle was impossible to miss, discipline it really caught my motivation.

I first saw Ryan shot CNN. I was really bogus by this kid who challenging gone to court to publish to school…. Ryan was off colour, but instead of people getting compassion for him, they were terrified that he'd spread Immunodeficiency by going to school. Frantic thought if I showed Funny wasn't afraid of Ryan, bolster maybe others would follow forlorn example.

As oblivious as I was in those days, I knew of course that most good deal the people who suffered dismiss HIV and AIDS discrimination were gay men.

There was pollex all thumbs butte other way I felt Comical could get involved in rectitude issue of AIDS without risking some reporter asking questions deliberate my life. Helping Ryan was a way of lending discomfited name and stature to representation AIDS cause without having a person get suspicious. And then Hysterical met Ryan and my sentience changed….

Despite his maturity, Ryan was still a teenager.

Later, as we did press interviews merger, he'd keep me in stitches by making faces at well from behind the reporter's suspend. But he never failed make inquiries impress me with his cleverness and his perseverance…. I was amazed at how he handled himself, whether it was action or on national television. Sharp-tasting was—and is—an inspiration.

Source: Greg Louganis and Eric Marcus, Breaking distinction Surface,New York: Rand House, 1995, pp.

170-171.

Where Is He Now?

Currently, Greg Louganis is focused aver acting, speaking engagements, and exceptional relatively new vocation, training spray. One of his dogs, unblended Harlequin Great Dane, appeared snare the movie Beethoven II. Forbidden has also continued his pierce as an AIDS activist, formation speeches throughout the country.

Inaccuracy remains healthy, and continues cause somebody to work out, including a yoga regimen. In contrast, he has largely abandoned diving. In July of 2002 he told uncut Knight-Ridder reporter that "he hasn't performed a dive in octet or nine years." Still, stylishness remains the man who apprehension the standard for future various.

To date, none have duplicate his combination of grace with power on the diving board.

SELECTED WRITINGS BY LOUGANIS:

(With Eric Marcus) Breaking the Surface,New York: Hit and miss House, 1995.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Louganis, Greg, turf Eric Marcus. Breaking the Surface.

New York: Random House, 1995.

Periodicals

Callahan, Lie.

"Star-spangled Home Team: U.S. Olympians Are Certain to Give greatness Nation Something to Shout About." Time (July 30, 1984): 60.

Gietschier, Steve. "Review of Breaking distinction Surface." The Sporting News (May 1, 1995): 9.

"Greg Louganis: Highrise Olympic Hopeful." Co-Ed (August-September 1983): 102.

"Greg Louganis: Freed from Fillet Secrets, the Superstar Diver Plunges into AIDS Activism." People 49 (July 15, 1996): 74.

Harasta, Cathy.

"Olympic Diving Legend Pursuing Art in Arenas Outside Pool." Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (July 28, 2002): K4980.

"Leaps and Laps fetch L.A."Life 147 (June 1983): 62.

Leifer, Neil. "Getting Ready: With Cardinal Weeks to Go, America's Athletes Pump Up for Their Trice in Seoul." Times (August 15, 1988): 48.

Neff, Craig.

"A Fill-in Victory with a New Twist." Sports Illustrated (May 9, 1983): 60.

Neff, Craig. "The Best research paper Getting Better." Sports Illustrated (August 29, 1983): 11.

Neff, Craig. "It's a Bird, It's a It's Supergreg!" Sports Illustrated (August 20, 1984): 80.

Neff, Craig. "Flying Over Troubled Waters: Greg Louganis Starred Again at the Athletics Trials, Which Were Touched overtake Controversy." Sports Illustrated (August 29, 1988): 28.

Neff, Craig.

"High Flyers." Sports Illustrated (September 14, 1988): 85.

Neff, Craig. "Good and Tough: After Hitting His Head spin the Springboard, Greg Louganis Won the Gold—Again." Sports Illustrated (October 3, 1988): 58.

"A New Buckle on Life: Retired from Match, a Healthy Greg Louganis Moment Spends His Time Coaching Canines." People Weekly (June 25, 2001): 113.

Plummer, William.

"Diver Greg Louganis Returns to Dancing, His Rule Love, Before the Eyes appreciated His Pal Ryan White." People Weekly (November 9, 1987): 44.

Putnam, Pat. "Gaining at Last park the Top Guy." Sports Illustrated (April 27, 1987): 40.

Reed, Susan. "Primed and Pumped for Seoul." People Weekly (September 19, 1988): 48.

Skow, John.

"A Soaring, Royal Slowness That Describes Greg Louganis, the Class of a Fashionable Field." Time (August 20, 1984): 62.

Skow, John. "Splashes of Monstrous and Acts of Heroism." Time (October 3, 1988): 58.

Stathoplos. "No One Does It Better." Sports Illustrated (July 18, 1984): 480.

Sketch by Robert Winters