Diver Greg Louganis: ‘The Impact You Have as an Olympian … Is Such a Blessing’

To help celebrate the Summer Games in Paris (July 26–Aug. 11), AARP is checking with some of the most iconic figures in U.S. Olympic history about their magical moments — and the new passions that shape their lives today.

A native Californian of European and Samoan descent, Greg Louganis is widely considered the greatest diver in history. Despite missing the 1980 Olympics due to the U.S. boycott, he made a triumphant return in 1984 and 1988, becoming the only man in history to win gold in both springboard and platform diving in consecutive Games. His exquisite dive at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, performed shortly after hitting his head on the board, remains legendary. Beyond his athletic achievements, Louganis is a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness, bravely coming out as gay and disclosing his HIV-positive status, breaking barriers and challenging stigmas.

Golden Reflections: The 1984 Games felt effortless. It felt like a dance, and it was a beautiful dream-come-true competition for me. Four years later, I was barely getting through. I was diagnosed as HIV positive six months prior to the Games in ’88, and they put me on AZT right away. Then I hit my head on the springboard in the preliminaries and got a concussion. I wasn’t jumping as high or spinning as fast as I did in 1984, but holy smokes, I won two gold medals again.

Meaning in the Medals: I faced a lot of homophobia and got called a lot of names, but all that goes away when you get an email, like I once did, from a fan who said, “You’re not gonna remember me, but 15 years ago, you came to Salem, Oregon, and I was the first person in line, and I brought all of my memorabilia, and you signed everything. You even signed a picture of you and your dog. You signed, ‘Believe in yourself,’ and you drew a paw print.” He said, “When you drew that paw print, I decided not to kill myself.” Today, he’s a dear friend. The impact you have as an Olympian, as a public figure, it’s such a blessing.

Outside the Arena: I’ve been a professional dancer, performed in musicals; I did a one-man show in New York; I’ve been an activist for gay rights. My autobiography was a bestseller. What I’m most excited about now is the children’s book I’m working on.

The Shape I’m In: Age-wise, things are changing. You have to pee all the time, and I don’t have quite the same energy. But I’m looking for new ways to sustain good health. I’m looking into an Ayurvedic diet, and my meditation practice and my yoga practice are very important to me.

Going to the Games? Yes. I’ll be in Paris toward the end of the Games because that’s when the diving events happen.

Eyes on Paris: Cassiel Rousseau from Australia won the World Aquatics Championships last year on the 10-meter platform, and that’s exciting. But what I’m really curious about this year is the introduction of breakdancing to the Games. That will be wild.