On Thursday night, Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis gave a heartwarming speech at the Virgin Holidays Attitude Awards.
Related: Greg Louganis Tells How He Went From Heartthrob To Activist With Candid New Film
Instead of a boilerplate speech, Louganis read a letter he’d written to his 16-year-old self:
“Dear 16-year-old Greg, I know you won’t believe me, but life is going to get better. Young man, you will make lots of mistakes along the way.
You will learn your dad really is proud of you, and loved you, but didn’t know how to show it.
You will not get the love you want, but you will learn that people will do the best they can. You’ve been rough on your mum, but you will forgive yourself and she will teach you that she loves you. There’s a man you’ve met who will teach you the meaning of trust and respect. He will stay by your side when you think no one else will.
You will understand those confusing feelings about yourself. About who you are and who you fall in love with. It’s just who you are that you love a man. You will survive your suicide attempts and something glorious will happen.
You’ll realize God doesn’t make mistakes. You will learn you weren’t discarded, you were loved by your biological family. I know you can’t imagine living past 30, but you will live well beyond that. Those hurts, bumps and bruises, you’re going to let go of.”
Watch the speech below:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Rex Huskey
Yawn…
blackout_boycott
I met Greg at a disco club before he went to win the many gold metals.
I didn’t know who he was or what he would of accomplish.
At that time we didn’t talk, and he accepted my invite to dance. He would only dance with me.
After the dance was over, I escorted him to the front door, and before he even exit, he gave me a kiss on my lips I wouldn’t believe.
When he went out the door, and down the street I never seen him again until the Olympics.
I was amazed by him and his accomplishments, even when he hit his head on the board, he just got back up, and won the gold.
It didn’t matter to me who he was, only that I shared a special part of history with him I will never forget.
Greg you have all my heart and respect, and you’ll be my hero forever more.
Thank you
Bob LaBlah
Dear diary:
On the day millions of HIV infected men and women lost their healthcare prescription drug insurance coverage along with other benefits that helped them stay alive because of a narcissistic, rug headed ignoramus that got elected president by accident (and help from a foreign power) we, the gay community of America, get a washed up thanks-to-no-one-but-himself swimmer (whom of all people should have been THE most respected and important spokesperson on the planet for those suffering with HIV) stand up in front of an audience with this b/s. I don’t know which is worse; his irrelevance overall or this article being passed off as newsworthy. This wreaks of a paid appearance by the way. Were this organization important why settle for a mediocre ex-swimmer whom Mike Phelps left in the dust years ago.
Ben
Mr. LaBlah should learn of whom he speaks before he opens his ignorant and mean mouth.
Mr. Louganis set records as one of the most important divers in Olympic History: He Has 47 national titles, more than anyone else in U.S. history.
Bullied as a child for his learning “differences” (he has dyslexia), he turned to sport as a way to cope.
1976 – Olympic silver medalist, 10m platform (16 years old) 1984 – Olympic gold medalist, 3m springboard 1984 – Olympic gold medalist, 10m platform (first in 56 years to win both events) 1988 – Olympic gold medalist, 3m springboard 1988 – Olympic gold medalist, 10m platform (only male to win 4 gold medals in consecutive Games).
Adopted at 9 months by Frances and Peter Louganis.
Mr. Louganis is one of the brightest stars in swimming history. He deserves admiration, not very foolish and stupid misstatements from the likes of Mr. LaBlah. (What a suitable name, by the way!)
Bob LaBlah
“Mr. Louganis is one of the brightest stars in swimming history.”
At least he WAS good for something, huh?
o.codone
The guy’s a crashing narcissistic bore. And, he’s an a-hole for exposing his coach to HIV because it was all about him. Get lost.
Palto
Says the odious queen. Drop dead.
Berkleyguy
First of all, before you morons go and diss one of the legendary Olympian heroes, have your facts in order. Mike Phelps did not leave Louganis in the dust because Phelps was a swimmer – Louganis was a diver. Two very different events. I met Louganis in 1984 on the Olympic tour. I found him not only to be smoking hot but one of the most humble and gracious individuals it had ever been my pleasure to meet. He gladly autographed the front cover of Sports Illustrated that carried his picture. He was delighted to do so and now 33 years later, I still have my copy of that magazine. He continues to this day to inspire younger divers to achieve excellence and not sink into mediocrity and his activism as an advocate for HIV/AIDS education and awareness is immeasurable. He will always be one of my heroes.
Bob LaBlah
Dude, you need to start reading your memos and take a basic math refresher course. Phelps won a total of TWENTY-EIGHT medals vs lil queenie’s eight. I think it fair to say he was left in the dust regardless of whether a swimmer or diver. I bet the entire time you guys were together in the same room he acted like a twelve year old with puppy love eyes even though he was well into his twenties. You are sounding like Greg himself screeching for attention and trying to defend his lack of personality because no one is or ever did pay him any attention because as soon as they met him they saw the same phony as the rest of us. Cute little twelve year old Greggy-weggy is what he still thinks he is, or at least that expression on his face comes off as.
Oh, and by the way, is there any value to that SI magazine he autographed? I thought so. NEXT!
towel boy
Mr. LaBlah,
You are all wet!
Here is a snippet from the History of the Greatest Olympic Divers. And…..Louganis is #1 !!!!
Power Ranking the Top 10 Male Divers in U.S. Olympic History
2. Sammy Lee
9 OF 10
Now we have come to the heavy-hitters of U.S. Diving history. At the two-spot, we have Sammy Lee, seen here at the 100 Days Celebration a few weeks ago.
Lee was born in Fresno, CA way back in 1920 and is of Korean descent. He competed in two Olympic Games for the United States and became the first ever Asian-American gold medalist for the U.S. Team. Lee brought two gold medals to the states in the 10-meter platform as well as a bronze in the 3-meter springboard.
1. Greg Louganis
10 OF 10
That man is none other than the great Greg Louganis. Winning five medals (four gold) over the course of three Olympic Games has made Louganis synonymous with the sport of diving.
As a 16-year-old at the 1976 Montreal Games, Louganis gave U.S. fans a taste of what was to come of the young man from California. He took home the silver medal in the 10-meter platform.
Louganis returned to the biggest stage eight years later at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, winning two gold medals in both the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard. That performance should have cemented him in Olympic lore, but Louganis wasn’t yet finished.
At the 1988 Games in Seoul, Louganis repeated his performance from the ’84 Games. He once again earned the same two golds for his country, 12 years after his first Olympic medal.
Louganis’ legend is added to by his five World Championship golds as well as his out-of-the-pool exploits. In 1994, Louganis revealed to the world that he had known that he was HIV positive since right before the ’88 Games. The following year, he co-wrote his autobiography which detailed his thrilling life story.
Now go take a shower.