Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis (Gregory Efthimios Louganis) was born on January 29th, 1960 and is currently 65 years old. Greg Louganis was born in El Cajon, California, USA. Louganis attended the University of California, Irvine where he received a degree in theater and a minor in dance. Greg also attended the University of Miami.
Greg Louganis is an American diver and a four-time Olympic gold medalist, winning in both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He is the only man and the second diver in Olympic history to win gold in both the springboard and platform diving events in consecutive Games. Often regarded as
probably the greatest diver in history and
the greatest American diver, Louganis left an enduring legacy in the sport.
His bestselling autobiography,
Breaking the Surface, co-authored with Eric Marcus, was published in 1996 and topped the New York Times Bestseller list for five weeks. In 1998, he released
Looking to the Light, a video diary continuing where his autobiography left off. He later co-authored
For the Life of Your Dog (1999) with Betty Sicora Siino.
In
Breaking the Surface, Louganis reflects on his life story and the countless challenges he faced growing up. As a child, he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia and a stutter, which made school difficult. In a predominantly white school, he often faced bullying due to his darker skin and had to prove that he wasn’t intellectually slow. Despite his academic struggles, he excelled in dance and gymnastics, which later contributed to his success in diving.
Born to a European mother and a Samoan father—both unmarried teenagers—Louganis was placed for adoption as a baby. At nine months old, he was adopted by a strict Greek-American father and a loving mother. He and his adopted sister tried their best to avoid angering their father, whose disciplinary approach often made life difficult. Even as an adult, Louganis faced personal struggles, making it hard for him to connect socially.
Throughout his career, he kept both his homosexuality and his HIV-positive status a secret. He also endured toxic romantic relationships that put his professional diving career at risk. Despite winning gold medals and earning widespread acclaim, Louganis often struggled with low self-esteem and self-doubt due to his hidden truths.
Breaking the Surface is a deeply honest and moving memoir, written in an engaging and easy-to-read style. Louganis details his professional journey, from early struggles to becoming an Olympic champion, culminating in his decision to publicly come out as a gay man living with HIV.
Following the book’s success, a film adaptation of
Breaking the Surface was released in 1997, directed by Steven Hilliard Stern and starring Mario Lopez as Louganis. Louganis served as both the film’s narrator and made appearances in select scenes.
Greg Louganis: Lists & Other Mentions
- Breaking the Surface was a New York Times: #1 Nonfiction Best Seller in 1995.
Greg Louganis: F.A.Q
When was Greg Louganis Born? How old is Greg Louganis?
Greg Louganis was born on January 29th, 1960. Greg Louganis is currently 65 years old.
Where was Greg Louganis Born?
Greg Louganis was born in El Cajon, California, USA and is American.
What was the first book Greg Louganis wrote?
The first book written by Greg Louganis was For the Life of Your Dog, published in 1999.
What was the most recent book Greg Louganis wrote?
His most recently released work was Breaking the Surface on March 1st, 2006.
Will there be any more books by Greg Louganis?
Greg Louganis does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
How many books has Greg Louganis written?
Greg Louganis has written 2 books. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.