Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 395 November 28, 2018

Greg Louganis is the greatest diver
in history. In Los Angeles at the
1984 Summer Olympics, Louganis
achieved gold medals in both the
men’s three-meter springboard
and 10-meter platform events. He
became the first diver to break
700-point mark in scoring of the
men’s platform in Olympic history.
At the 1988 Olympic Summer Games
held in Seoul, South Korea, he
won the gold for the three-meter
springboard competition, as well
as the gold for the men’s 10-meter
platform. He is the only male
and the second diver in Olympic
history to sweep the diving events
in consecutive Olympic Games.
Louganis continues to inspire us with
his work as a noted author, an activist
and a humanitarian.
You are the only male and the
second diver in Olympic history
to sweep the diving events in
consecutive Olympic Games, and
been called “the greatest American
diver.” It’s been 30 years since you
won two gold medals in the Seoul
Olympics. How do you reflect on
that period now?
I think it is “in the history of the
sport,” not just “America.” China,
Italy, Russia, had many wonderful
divers. It is in the history books. I
don’t reflect often about it, unless I
get questions like this.
How has the sport of diving
changed since your competition
days? Who are a few divers that
you follow?
The focus is on degree of difficulty.
The sport has changed tremendously,
and also they now have four more
medal events with synchronized
diving. Tom Daley, and [I’m] curious
who the new Chinese are; Sasha Klein
from Germany was a favorite of mine,
as well as Matthew Mitcham.