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A popular speaker for universities, community associations, healthcare organizations, and corporate groups, his honest message of acceptance and understanding has inspired millions around the world.Īll FIGHT programs and services are offered regardless of gender, race, color, sex, religious beliefs, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or insurance status. Today, Greg Louganis speaks out on the obstacles he has overcome with a warmth and grace that embody the Olympic spirit. Louganis continues to speak nationally and was part of the MEDCO Tour of Champions, a very select group of standout Olympians (2007/2008). He also co-owns a non-profit organization, Greg Louganis Positively Pet Fund, which help patients living with HIV/AIDS with their pet care needs. Louganis has set up a scholarship fund with GLBTQ Online High School to help Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Youth to get an education in a safe environment. With Co-Author Betsy Siino, he wrote a canine care book from birth to death and everything in between for the conscientious owner. The success of the book landed him interviews with Barbara Walters and Oprah Winfrey, was made into the popular Showtime movie Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story starring Mario Lopez and lead to his second book, For the Life of Your Dog. It was only after coming out as an HIV-positive gay man that he was able to find peace and start to help others fighting personal battles. Louganis reveals the strenuous work he put in to reach ultimate athletic success, but his mental health issues, lack of confidence and self-worth kept him from true happiness. Audiences learn of a man breaking free of a lifetime of silence and isolation. After coming to terms with his diagnosis, Louganis collaborated with Eric Marcus to write his autobiography Breaking the Surface, which spent five weeks at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He qualified for springboard and platform for the 1980 Olympics, which were boycotted, and went on to be the first male diver to get double gold in springboard and platform in the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.ġ988 was not only the year Louganis made Olympic history, but also the year he tested positive for HIV. Louganis became a United States national treasure when he won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics on platform at the tender age of 16. He’s a five-time World Champion, won 47 national championship titles and was the first man to win two Gold Medals in diving in two consecutive Olympiads.

Greg Louganis is considered to be one of the world’s best divers.