GREG LOUGANIS

GREG LOUGANIS
http://frostwhisper2012.blogspot.com/2012/11/greg-louganis.html

GREG LOUGANIS started competitive diving as a 10 year old. He took part in his first Olympic Games, the 1976 Montreal Games, aged just 16 and claimed silver in the 10m platform. Four years later, he was firmly established as the world’s best diver, but the United States’ boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games meant that he had to wait another four years to taste Olympic gold.

Louganis was coached by Korean-American Dr. Sammy Lee, a two-time Olympic champion.Of Samoan and European descent, Louganis studied classical dance for many years, and this training provided the basis for the elegance and artistry of his performances. In addition to his Olympic titles, he won six World Championships and held many records for the highest marks ever achieved in competition.





1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPICS


At the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Louganis found himself competing in front of his home crowd in California. He won the gold medal in both the 3m springboard and 10m platform events. This made him the first Olympian in 56 years to achieve this spectacular double.
He won the 1984 Olympics 3m Springboard Competition by a whopping margin 94 points, in a sport where the winning margin is measured in the Decimals.




In winning both the springboard and the platform at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Louganis became the first man to pull off that Olympic double since American Pete Desjardins in 1928. He also was the first to pass 700 points in both events in the same Olympics. His 710.91 points remain the most recorded in the Olympic platform competition since the advent of the current scoring system, and his victory in the springboard was the most lopsided in the history of the Games.

SEOUL - SEPTEMBER 19: Greg LOUGANIS of the USA diving team hits his head on the board during competition at the 1988 Seoul Olympics on September 19. Photo shows him right after hitting his head.(Photo by Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images)

1988 SEOUL OLYMPICS


Four years later in Seoul Olympic Games 1988, Louganis was now a veteran of his sport and faced a number of upcoming younger rivals. Yet despite striking the board with his head in the 9th Dive of the 3m Springboard Qualification rounds, Louganis dramatically retained both his Olympic titles. Given his dominance, it is highly probable that the 1980 boycott prevented Louganis from winning the diving double at three consecutive Games, which would have been an unprecedented feat.

 
I watched this Event myself and this CEMENTED Greg Louganis' Legacy as the Greatest Diver Ever. He thwarted the threat of People's Republic of China's Tan Lian De, Xiong Ni and upcoming Chinese diving stars for 2 Olympic Games.


 


SOURCES
Wikipedia
http://www.olympic.org/gregory-louganis
Youtube