
01/06/2025
One of my biggest heroes and icons growing up - even before I knew I was a le***an! I was a diver in HS and Greg Louganis was my biggest inspiration for the sport. World Class in every way! Happy Pride! ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
Greg Louganis - the diving icon who dominated the Olympics while carrying the heaviest secret. When other gay men were being fired from jobs and kicked out of homes, Greg was winning gold medals while HIV-positive.
In the 1980s, being openly gay meant career destruction for athletes. No endorsements. No respect. No future. Yet there was Greg, executing perfect dives while mainstream America would have rejected him if they knew his truth.
When he finally came out in 1994, he became the first openly gay Olympic champion in a time when even Ellen DeGeneres hadn't yet come out on television.
His sponsor Speedo shocked everyone by keeping him - the first major company to stand by an openly gay athlete.
His memoir "Breaking the Surface" revealed he'd survived not just closeted fame but also an abusive relationship with his manager. Despite all this, he still showed up and performed with such perfection that divers today still study his techniques.