Greg Louganis

Profession: Diver

Nationality:

Biography: Greg Louganis is an American Olympic diver and LGBT activist, widely considered one of the greatest divers in history. He is known for his remarkable performances in the Olympics and for his advocacy work in the LGBT community and HIV awareness.

Louganis began diving at a young age and quickly showed talent. His diving career is marked by numerous achievements, including gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics. In total, Louganis won four Olympic gold medals and one silver, making him one of the most decorated divers in Olympic history.

His performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was particularly notable. During the preliminary rounds of the 3-meter springboard event, Louganis hit his head on the diving board, a moment that became one of the most iconic in Olympic history. Despite suffering a concussion, he continued to dive and ultimately won the gold medal in that event as well as in the 10-meter platform.

Louganis's athletic career was marked not just by his successes but also by challenges. In 1995, he publicly came out as gay and announced that he was HIV-positive, having been diagnosed shortly before the Seoul Olympics. His announcement was groundbreaking, bringing attention to HIV/AIDS and challenging stereotypes about HIV-positive individuals, particularly in the world of sports.

Since retiring, Louganis has been an active advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and LGBT rights. He has worked with various organizations, spoken at events, and written a best-selling autobiography, Breaking the Surface (1985), which detailed his life, career, and coming out. The book was later adapted into a television movie.

Born: January 29, 1960
Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
Age: 64 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Aquarius