Celebrating the Career of Greg Louganis Through the Lens of the Herald Examiner

Christina Rice, Senior Librarian, Photo Collection,
Greg Louganis mid dive

The 1984 Olympic Summer Games were a considerable success for the United States as both a host and competitor. A major contributor to the country's medal count that year was diver Greg Louganis who won the gold in both the men's 3 metre springboard and 10 metre platform competitions, a feat he would duplicate at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. Louganis, who has been openly gay since the mid-1990s and living with an HIV positive diagnosis since 1988, proved to be as popular with media photographers as he was with fans. Our Herald Examiner photo collection reflects this with a selection of images that capture Louganis' many successes on the diving board.

Louganis

Greg Louganis as a 16-year-old Olympic diving hopeful from El Cajon, is the picture of aerobatic grace as he practices his skills at Los Coyotes Country Club, site of this weekend's Los Angeles International Invitational High Platform & Springboard Diving Championships in Buena Park. He would go on to win a silver medal in the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal. June 11, 1976. (Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis is shown during the McDonalds' Invitational International which officially opened the Olympic Swim Stadium, built for the 1984 Games. July 16, 1983 (James Ruebsamen/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis makes his first appearance at the 1984 Games during the springboard preliminaries. August 7, 1984. (Anne Knudsen/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis begins his dive in the 3 metre springboard finals. August 8, 1984. (Anne Knudeson/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis on his way to posting a score of 752.37 in the 3 metre springboard competition, which earned him the gold medal. August 8, 1984. (Anne Knudeson/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis accepting one of his two gold medals during the 1984 Olympic Summer Games. August 1984. (Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

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Louganis reflects on his Olympic victory a few months following the conclusion of the 1984 Games. April 22, 1985 (Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)
 
 
Louganis
Greg Louganis at the height of his career during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Undated. (Anne Knudsen/Los Angeles Herald Examiner Collection)

 

 

 

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