Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis
discussed the rigors of HIV treatment in the 80s and his
participation in the ABC reality show Splash during Thursday's
episode of the web show Gwissues.
Louganis told host Howard Bragman that
he does not know when he was infected but that he was diagnosed HIV
positive “about 6 months prior to the 1988 Olympic games.”
“We've come so far, you know, with
regards to HIV, because had anybody known my HIV status in '88 I
never would have been able to go to Seoul, Korea, because they
wouldn't have allowed me into the country,” Louganis said.
Louganis, who won two gold medals on
both the springboard and platform in Seoul, added that early HIV
treatment AZT was toxic.
“My [Breaking the Surface:The Greg
Louganis Story] co-author Eric Marcus, he said, 'You'll never
know what an accomplishment two Olympic gold medals on AZT actually
is.'”
ABC reality show Splash hit the
ratings jackpot when it debuted in March. On the show, 10
celebrities and semi-celebrities are coached on competitive diving by
Louganis while Olympians Steve Foley and David Boudia judge the
competitors.
“It's almost like diving becomes a
metaphor for life. And taking that leap of faith and trust. And
also that these guys are not out there by themselves and alone. They
have us supporting them. And it's their journey,” he said of the
competitors on the show. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)