Where is Greg Louganis Now? Did Greg Louganis Hit His Head? What is Greg Louganis Doing Now?

Where is Greg Louganis Now?

Greg Louganis, once celebrated as one of the greatest Olympic divers, is now deeply involved in helping others. After retiring from competitive diving following the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he has focused on coaching and mentoring young divers at the SoCal Divers Club in Fullerton, California. He also played a key role in supporting the U.S. diving team at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Louganis is also known for his work as an LGBTQ activist and advocate for HIV awareness. Since revealing his HIV-positive status in 1995, he has been a strong voice for the LGBTQ community, working with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign. In 2023, he planned to auction off some of his Olympic medals to raise funds for the Damien Center, an AIDS medical services center in Indiana.

In addition to his advocacy, Louganis has made appearances on television and in films, and he continues to be active in motivational speaking. His contributions go beyond the pool, as he uses his platform to support mental health and LGBTQ rights. (Source: NBC)

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Who is Greg Louganis?

Greg Louganis is a legendary American diver who won gold medals in both the springboard and platform events at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. He is the only man and the second diver ever to win both diving events at two consecutive Olympics. Louganis is celebrated as "the greatest American diver" and is often considered "probably the greatest diver in history." His impressive achievements have solidified his place as a diving icon.

Greg Louganis Career

As a Junior Olympic diver, Greg Louganis was coached by two-time Olympic champion Dr. Sammy Lee. At 16, he won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He missed the 1980 Moscow Games due to a U.S. boycott but won gold in both the springboard and tower events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, despite hitting his head and suffering a concussion, Louganis won gold in both events again, earning him ABC's Wide World of Sports "Athlete of the Year" title.

Six months before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Greg Louganis was diagnosed with HIV but did not publicly disclose it until 1995. At the time of his head injury during the Olympics, he was terrified of infecting others, but no one else was affected. Louganis had few endorsement deals, with Speedo being his major sponsor until 2007. In 2016, he appeared on a Wheaties box as part of a special "Legends" series. Louganis has been coaching divers at the SoCal Divers Club since 2010 and mentored the US diving teams at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

After college, Greg Louganis acted in various films and theater productions, including Jeffrey and Watercolors. He appeared on TV shows like Hollywood Squares, Splash, and Holey Moley. Louganis wrote a bestselling autobiography, Breaking the Surface, and released a video diary and a dog care book. Post-diving, he competed in dog agility events, finding joy and comfort in being with his dogs, many of whom were named after Harry Potter characters.

Greg Louganis Early Life

Greg Louganis was born in El Cajon, California, and has Samoan and Swedish heritage. After being adopted at eight months old, he was raised by his adoptive parents, Frances and Peter Louganis, with his father being of Greek descent. In 1984, Louganis reconnected with his biological father, and in 2017, he found his biological mother with the help of DNA tests. He started dance, acrobatics, and gymnastics at 18 months and began diving lessons at nine. Louganis attended Santa Ana High School, Valhalla High School, and Mission Viejo High School. He later studied drama at the University of Miami and earned a degree in theater and dance from the University of California, Irvine.

Greg Louganis Personal Life

Greg Louganis has been a vocal advocate for gay rights and HIV awareness. From 1983 to 1989, he was in a troubled and abusive relationship with his manager, R. James "Jim" Babbitt. Louganis contracted HIV from Babbitt, who later died of AIDS in 1990. Despite fearing he might die soon, Louganis celebrated his 33rd birthday in 1993 as a farewell to loved ones. He came out publicly as gay in 1994 and revealed his HIV status in 1995. Louganis married paralegal Johnny Chaillot in 2013, but they ended their marriage in 2021.

Greg Louganis Net Worth

Greg Louganis Net Worth is $2 million. His primary sources of income include his work as a public speaker and author. He also earns from his acting roles and endorsements. Additionally, he has income from his involvement in dog agility competitions and LGBTQ+ advocacy events.

Did Greg Louganis Hit His Head?

Yes, Greg Louganis hit his head during the preliminary round of the three-meter springboard event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His head clipped the edge of the board, causing him to receive several stitches and suffer a concussion. Despite this injury, Louganis continued in the competition and went on to win gold medals in both the three-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform events. His remarkable performance and recovery are considered one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic history.

What is Greg Louganis Doing Now?

Greg Louganis is actively coaching young divers at the SoCal Divers Club in Fullerton, California. He remains a prominent LGBTQ activist and advocate for HIV awareness, working with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign. In 2023, he planned to auction his Olympic medals to support the Damien Center, an AIDS medical services center. Louganis continues to make television appearances and engage in motivational speaking. He also remains involved in dog agility competitions and has written a book about dog care.