Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Greg Louganis won four Olympic gold and five world championships during his illustrious career diving. During the 1988 Olympic springboard competition, he hit his head on the board and walked a concussion, but still back to win gold, capping one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the Games. In 1995, Louganis revealed he was HIV positive. The New York Times caught up with the big dive, who recently returned to the sport as a junior coach. Some interesting tidbits from the piece:

1. Louganis accepted a job at SoCal divers four months ago after he was assured that his "brick" mentality that keeps a focus on mechanics perform. It is the first coaching he has done since 1976, when he helped his high school team after returning from the Montreal Games.

2. The diver threw herself a "spectacular event" when he turned 33 because he expects his last birthday. Eighteen years later he says his health is so good "you kind of forget."

3. He appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last month at the 1995 show, which he revealed he was gay to discuss. Also appearing on that show was a man who said Louganis' appearance on Oprah, which he saw when he was 12 years old, helped him the courage to live his life as an openly gay man.

4. Before returning to coaching, Louganis was spending his time training dogs for agility competitions. A former Olympic teammate said Louganis' work with the dogs helps them give clear assignments are diverse.

5. To return to coach, Louganis said he did not dive. His Malibu home did not even have a diving board at the pool. That has apparently changed. The Times article ends with a description of the major diving gets on the board during a break in practice and performing pike that "caused barely a splash."

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