Features

by jonathan soroff

Photo Credit: Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool

Gold medalist and five-time world champion Greg Louganis, 52, comes to Boston on Aug. 25 as a judge on the only U.S. stop in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which takes place at the Institute of Contemporary Art in South Boston. A native of San Diego, Louganis’ diving career included a silver and four gold medals in the Olympics, and 47 national championships, making him one of the foremost amateur athletes in history. In 1988, he famously hit his head on the diving board and received a concussion during the Olympics in Seoul. He’s been a successful actor, speaker, dog trainer and diving coach, and is the author of Breaking the Surface and coauthor of For the Life of Your Dog. As an openly gay man with HIV, he’s an outspoken advocate for GLBTQ rights and HIV treatment and prevention. He lives in Malibu.

Jonathan Soroff: Are you going to London for the Olympics?

Greg Louganis: Yes, I am, but not as a commentator.

How many of the original Olympians do you guess were gay?
Plenty. There was a tradition with Greek soldiers of having a young “assistant.” They had a very different attitude toward sex and sexuality.

Did you pave the way for other gay athletes?
I think Matthew Mitcham from Australia was a lot braver, because he came out while he was still competing. I also think that diving is different, in that it’s a solo sport. It takes a lot more courage to come out if you’re doing a team sport, because you need the support of your teammates.

Do you generally smell like chlorine?
I did for a long time.

Didn’t that wreak havoc on your hair?
Yeah. That’s why I just cut it off.

You and Anderson Cooper are silver foxes. Are you going to come out over and over again the way he seems to be doing?
Ah, no. Once was enough for me. But I did read a rumor that we were dating, and I was like, “Yeah, I wish.” I’d jump on that.

Number-one question fans ask you?
Usually something like, “Do you still have a headache?” If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that…

Most beautiful place to dive?
Platform? I have to say with the Red Bull World Series, Athens was my favorite. After that, probably Yalta.

Dog training is listed before diving on your bio. What’s up with that?
Dogs are nicer and easier.

How many do you have at this point?
Right now, only two. My aunt has the other two.

Ever trained a dog to dive?
Yeah! My dogs can dive. They’re really good. Both Jack Russells.

Do you think you pushed the boundaries of your sport?
I don’t generally think of it that way, but I guess so. Sergei Shalibashvili died doing a reverse three-and-a-half somersault, so maybe I did.

How much Red Bull do you actually drink?
I’ve got wings.

Dream role as an actor?
To be a superhero or a ninja warrior. Something really physical like that. I love the whole flying thing.

Would you ever do full-frontal nudity?
Yeah, I did, in The Little Dog Laughed. I was 50 at the time.

Single most important thing to keep in mind when you’re diving?
Don’t f*** up.

Is Malibu the shallowest place in the world?
Depends. The girls here get their boobs on their 15th or 16th birthday. But if you hang out with the surfers, it’s a lot more down-to-earth.

Did you know that Michael Fassbender said he imitated your posture for his role in Prometheus?
I read that, and I was really flattered. Is he straight?

I don’t know, but if anyone could sway him, it’d probably be you.
I could give it a try.

Highest dive you’ve ever done?
Ten meters, but I probably went a little bit higher in Acapulco. I’m going to do a dive on the tour, and I’m trying to figure that out. Maybe a three-and-a-half somersault. I’m thinking in Portugal or Oman…

You have to do it in Boston!
No way! The water’s too cold.

Those guys in Acapulco. Are they all insane?
In a word? Yes.

Favorite name for a dive?
It’s more of a description. I like when they say “cowboy a dive.” You’re in a tuck with your feet spread apart. Charming visual, huh?

So when are we going to see you on Dancing With the Stars?
There’s a campaign to get me on it, and I’d love to do that show, but the next season is All-Stars, so I can’t be on that. Maybe the season after, I hope.

Do you have a slide on your swimming pool?
No.

Is it true that you don’t have a diving board?
It is. But I do have a one-meter platform.

Advice for someone who doesn’t know how to dive and wants to learn?
You can jump into the water feet first, right? Just flip it around. And don’t practice in the shallow end.

Last question: Can you still rock a Speedo?
I haven’t gotten any complaints.