Twitter
Facebook
My chat with Olympic legend Greg Louganis!
American divers have failed to win any Olympic medals in the last two Summer Games and won just one in 2000.
So who better to motivate them than the man who has won more diving medals in US history: Greg Louganis.
Louganis, winner of two golds as the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, two gold at the 1988 Games in Seoul, and a silver at the 1976 Games in Montreal when he was still in high school, was brought in by US Diving in 2010 as an athlete mentor to the Olympic hopefuls.
He will be at the 2012 Games in London hoping to see some of the younger Americans make it to the winner’s podium.
‘I’m just hoping it’s not too little too late because two years is not much time to prepare because preparation for an Olympic Games, it’s really a lifetime endeavor,’ he admits. ‘You really are committed and it’s an entire process.’
While his presence is welcomed by the athletes, Louganis says he has not felt the same embrace from all of the coaches.
‘It’s been a little challenging with the coaches,’ he says. ‘The divers have been very accepting. The coaches feel threatened in some way. I don’t know why. But I’m not coaching, I’m not a coach. I’m a mentor.’
To read the complete interview with Greg, go over to Gay Star News!
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Joan says:
It’s about time Mr. Louganis was recognized! He only has 4 Olympic gold medals, 1 Olympic silver medal, 5 gold medals from the World Championships and 6 gold medals from the Pan American games – but he never got his picture on the Wheaties box. And we know why. Tapes of Mr. Louganis’s dives are still being used today to train Olympic hopeful divers from around the world, so perfect was his technique!
Thank you, Greg, for covering this story.
jacey homen says:
Greg is such a lovely man….so gracious and classy. There are way too many American athletes these days who are so full of themselves, greedy and sometimes unpleasant. Greg is a beacon of what we wish all athelets were and a wonderful role model for youngsters.
I do think the reason American divers haven’t done that well in summer Olympics of late is because Australia’s Matthew Mitcham is so incredible!!! And Matthew (one of the first, if not the first, openly gay Olympic athletes)is another Greg in many ways. Two great guys.
ND Mitchell says:
It’s called jealousy, Greg L., from the coaches. You’re still hot and in the game, baby! Just tell them…don’t be jealous of my boogie!