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AIA Time Line
A brief outline of Asian American history.

Main Gallery
A growing collection of images documenting the life and history Asian Pacific America

Internment of Japanese Americans
Selected National Archives photos of the "evacuation" of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Greg Louganis
Olympian moves onto a Different Chapter

By Joyce Caoile for AIA, Janaury 2007

Greg Louganis about to execute another perfect dive.

Before the publication of his autobiography, the public knew only simple facts about the Olympic diving champion, Greg Louganis. Born in 1960 to teenage parents, a Samoan father and a European mother, adopted at 9 months by a Greek father and a Texan mother. Public curiousity soared after 1988 Olympics in Seoul when he gashed his head on the diving board at the preliminaries, and then continued on to win two gold medals.

Growing up in the San Diego, California area, Louganis joined dance competitions, then ventured on to acrobatics, gymnastics, and later, diving. The criticism he faced in school, his later diagnosed learning disability, and his fear of his father made him feel worthless. Fortunately, his coaches saw his potential early and helped him train for and win diving competitions. By hiding behind his athletic abilities, Louganis avoided confronting his emotional crises.

In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, he met a Russian competitor, "Yuri" - his first crush. In describing his feelings, he wrote, "I felt protected and taken care of by him, like with an older brother." Louganis had several more relationships where he sought approval and protection. In between peaks of bliss were troughs of depression and anxiety where he found temporary comfort in alcohol and drugs. His unsuccessful suicide attempts forced him to concentrate on his diving, and upon retirement after the 88 Games, with theatrical performances and acting classes.

With fellow Olympic gold medal winners on the cover of Newsweek.

Starring as Darius in the play, Jeffrey, "turned out to be even more therapeutic for me than I thought it would be. For me playing Darius was like a dry run of what I thought my life might be like down the line. I got to be publicly gay without being self-conscious. Darius was totally out and proud, not at all afraid of being himself. In some ways playing Darius was more satisfying than winning a gold medal at the Olympics, because it was much more challenging than diving. With Jeffrey, I had to convey emotions and thoughts through spoken and unspoken language - which was never easy for me. The experience of performing in Jeffrey really opened up my life. The renewed hope gave me just what I needed to make a couple of big decisions. One was to get off the painkillers I depended on to get me through the day. " Though hiding behind a character, Louganis felt as though the emotional connection he had with Darius and all that he represented allowed Louganis to start accepting himself. Behind the curtain, he started seeing some light.

Louganis was diagnosed with HIV shortly before the 88 Games. For many HIV positive patients, proper diet and regular exercise complement their medications and help them remain healthy. For Louganis, diet and exercise are vital to his health, but it's his dogs that give him energy, solace, and hope. "When I feel most scared and insecure, they sense this and stay closer to me. When my treatments or their side effects are most debilitating, we stay in, snuggle into bed, and the dogs don't leave my side."

Louganis seen here with Barbara Walters and coach/mentor, Dr. Sammy Lee, the first Korean American Gold Medal winner.

Using his experience as owner, rescuer, activist, professional trainer, volunteer groomer, and breeder, Louganis co-wrote a book about "canine language." Admittedly, his passion for dogs and dog care surpasses his love for diving. The foundation of his book is explaining that owning a dog is a responsibility - a commitment that may not be suitable for a person without time to devote. He has also just published "For the Life of Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Having a Dog in Your Life, From Adoption and Birth Through Sickness and Health." Some may think that Louganis is hiding behind the Great Danes and other dogs he has, and he accepts that, and admits some truth to it.

When with his dogs at public appearances, Louganis continues to be shy talking about his life, but can ramble on about Freeway, Ryan, Speedo... Since he credits them for his optimism, this proud "Daddy" devotes his life to his passion for dogs. He said that diving is only one chapter in his life, a chapter that has now ended.

Sources: Harasta, Cathy. "Olymplic Diving Legend Pursuing Artistry in Arenas Oustide Pool." The Dallas Morning News, 28 July 2002. Louganis, Greg. Breaking the Surface. New York: Random House, 1995. Louganis, Greg. For the Life of Your Dog. New York: Pocket Books, 1999. All images courtesy of www.louganis.com