Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
In the field of athletics, Greg Louganis will go down in history as arguably the greatest diver ever.
As an AIDS activist and educator, he has barely broken the surface.
But the 36-year-old Olympic gold medal winner, who announced last year that he is gay and has AIDS, told a crowd of 370 Monday night at UNLV that he feels healthy and optimistic about the future -- and he enjoys his new role as an AIDS activist.
"I understand that we all want to be loved," Louganis said. "But you should also love yourself enough to use protection."
Louganis' talk and a preceding panel discussion on AIDS education were sponsored by the UNLV student government, the office of the president, UNLV student services, the Residence Hall Association and the Clark County AIDS Coalition.
Despite his accomplishments in Olympic diving competitions -- Louganis is the only man ever to sweep the diving gold medals in two consecutive Olympics -- he told the audience that he never gained acceptance with many of his peers.
At least once during medal ceremonies, a fellow medalist refused to shake his hand, Louganis said, and there were other slights.
"I always had trouble getting someone to room with me. I don't know what they thought I would do," Louganis said. And then, with a mischievous smile, he added, "Like they should be so lucky."
With the help of his coaches, especially Ron O'Brien, and with the encouragement of the few friends strong enough to offer him support, Louganis persevered.
Strangely enough, Louganis said, he never realized how good he was until recently when he watched a film documentary of his diving career.
"For the first time, I gave myself credit for doing beautiful dives."
Louganis began competing in diving at age 10. By 16, he had won his first Olympic medal, a silver on the platform in the 1976 Olympics.
At 24, he became the first man in 56 years to win two Olympic gold medals in diving by winning the platform and springboard events in the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
Four years later, he competed against divers half his age in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Despite a near-disastrous injury to his head during a dive, he became the first man to win double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympics.
Despite these accomplishments, Louganis' personal life was filled with turmoil.
Because of his sexual preference, Louganis endured a great deal of tormenting from some of his fellow athletes.
During competitions when the athletes would stay in college dormitories, Louganis would find signs in the dormitory rest rooms. On the signs were written the word "fag" with the international symbol for "no" drawn over the word.
It wasn't until 1993 that Louganis finally told his family about his sexual orientation and his illness.
"My mother was wonderful when I told her," Louganis said. "I had had nightmares about that moment, but she just nodded her head and then asked, 'What's for dinner?'"
But later, during a surprise birthday party for Louganis, his mother started crying and said, "Greg, mothers aren't supposed to outlive their children."
Since his diagnosis in 1988 just before the Seoul Olympics, Louganis has worked hard to take care of his health. He has volunteered for several different drug trials, and currently is taking the new protease inhibitors, a so-called cocktail of AIDS drugs that helps rejuvenate the immune system.
Still, over the years, Louganis has fought off bouts of chronic diarrhea, high fevers and weight loss.
If nothing else, his battle with AIDS has made him a much tougher person.
"I remember practicing for the 1988 Olympics, and the other divers were complaining about cold temperatures, and here I was taking AZT and trying to compete and I was so thankful that I was healthy enough to be on the boards."
It was during the 1988 Olympics that Louganis struck his head on the springboard during preliminary dives, leaving a two-inch gash in his scalp.
Dr. James Puffer, a U.S. Olympic Committee doctor who was unaware of Louganis' condition and not wearing protective gloves, closed the wound with stitches. Louganis qualified for the finals and the next day won the springboard gold.
In recent years, Louganis has weathered some criticism for not telling Puffer about his condition. The doctor was subsequently tested and found negative.
"I have known Dr. Puffer since 1978, and I was terrified," Louganis said. "You have to remember that when you're competing in the Olympics, all the world is watching and you're being scrutinized, and I had to make an extremely important decision in less than 12 minutes."
Louganis also said he wasn't thinking clearly at the time, partly because he was "paralyzed with fear" and partly because he was in an abusive relationship with a man who years earlier had raped Louganis at knifepoint.
"He did that to me and I stayed with him for five years," Louganis said. "Can you imagine that? Thinking about it still kinda blows me away."
Louganis' little lapse during the Seoul Olympics did nothing to diminish the respect that many in the audience showed to the athlete.
"I would love for my kids to talk to you," a swimming coach told Louganis. "I think you are an inspiration."
A young man told Louganis that he is a role model for all young Americans who face difficult decisions and who strive for perfection.
"I have a problem with being a role model," Louganis said. "You see, I stumble and fall. ... I believe you should be your own role model."
In recent years, Louganis has taken to the stage.
Last year, he won the part of Darius in "Jeffrey," Paul Runick's off-Broadway hit comedy about the travails of being gay in New York City.
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