GREG LOUGANIS
Olympic gold medalist diver

Greg Louganis is clearly the world’s greatest diver and a fine athlete. In 1988, Greg won Olympic Gold despite striking the back of his head on the springboard during the preliminaries. He was awarded the Maxwell House/United States Olympic Committee Spirit Award as the athlete who had best exhibited the ideals of the Olympic spirit, demonstrated extraordinary courage and contributed significantly to the sport.

1988 was not only the year Greg made Olympic history, but also the year he tested positive for HIV. After coming to terms with his diagnosis, Greg recounted his story in his best-selling book Breaking the Surface which spent five weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. His story was in the popular Showtime movie “Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story” starring Mario Lopez.

In the years since his diagnosis, Greg has been an outspoken HIV awareness advocate appearing twice on The Oprah Show. His recent People Magazine spread shared his story of finding love, acceptance and a healthy lifestyle through his battle with the virus.

Greg also exhibited his broadcasting talent when he co-hosted segments on Good Morning America during the Atlanta Olympics, a first for an openly gay athlete. His video,Looking to the Light, a feature length visual diary of his life afterBreaking the Surface, details how his story has influenced so many people. More recently, Greg revealed one of his favorite pursuits in his book For the Life of your Dogwhich explores the joys and challenges of living with and caring for dogs. Today, Greg speaks out on the obstacles he has overcome with a warmth and grace that embody the Olympic spirit. A popular speaker for universities, community associations, health care organizations and corporate groups, his honest message of acceptance and understanding has inspired millions around the world.