THIS WEEK IN LGBT HISTORY :: 1984 - Greg Louganis Wins First Olympic Gold Medal

From: Wicked Gay

On  August 8, 1984, Greg Louganis won gold in the men's 3-meter springboard. A few days later, he also won gold for the 10-meter platform. He is the only make diver to ever sweep both of these events for gold in the Olympics. He did it again in 1988 in Seoul.

Louganis did not speak openly about being gay and HIV-positive until a 1995 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Recently, thousands of Greg's friends, fans, and supporters started an online petition to get Greg on a box of Wheaties.

Dozens of Olympians have been given this honor over the last few decades, and as a diver who took home gold medals and even set an Olympic record, Louganis seemed more than worthy himself. Yet, he was never put on a Wheaties box during the height of his diving career in the ‘80s. Many speculated that the reason he wasn’t considered was the fact that he is a gay man. 

Now, however, Louganis graces the front of the coveted cereal box as a part of Wheaties’ revamped “legends” series. He recently opened up to “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” about what this honor means to him, especially in the context of his work for gay rights. 

“It means more now than it probably would’ve then, because they would’ve been celebrating the athlete [back then],” he says. “I’m a gay man living with HIV. I feel like I’m being embraced as a whole person, and not just a part of me.” 

In 2013, Louganis reached another milestone he never thought would happen, when he married his partner, Johnny Chaillot, during a ceremony in Malibu.

“We’ve come so far as far as marriage equality and so many things that I’ve really kind of fought hard for,” Louganis says. “I never thought I’d see the day that I would be able to get married.”