American Olympic great Greg Louganis has hinted he was suicidal and suffered with ‘really severe’ depression last year during an Instagram live following his decision to relocate to Panama.
The 65-year-old diving icon – regarded as one of the greatest male divers in history – confirmed in a Facebook post recently that he’s left the U.S. for good.
He also revealed he’s even sold his California home and auctioned off three of his Olympic medals because he ‘needed money’ to begin a new chapter overseas.
Louganis, who won five Olympic medals between 1976 and 1988, went live on Instagram to talk about the motives behind his move.
Sat with his dog, Louganis said he was struggling with his mental health while at the Paris Olympics last year but has since realized he ‘has things to offer’.
‘I was feeling really, really alone and isolated. I was in a place, I didn’t want to be here,’ he said on the live stream,’ he explained.
American Olympic great Greg Louganis hinted he was suicidal and had ‘severe’ depression
Louganis, who won five Olympic medals between 1976 and 1988, has relocated to Panama
‘I remember last year I was in Paris, for the Olympics, I didn’t want to be here. Not that I didn’t want to be in Paris, i didn’t want to be on this earth. I mean it was really, really severe, bad depression. I just wanted somebody to take me out.
‘But now I am realizing that I have things to offer. So what that is and what that looks like, I haven’t figured it out and I think that it what this is what this is kind of about. Recalibration and figuring out what is next.
‘I’m not who I was when I was 16, I’m not who I was when i was 24. I was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1988 and I was prepared to die. We’re still here and I’m really embracing that.
‘I’m learning I need to take charge of my own life. Everybody is healing from something. I was prepared to die, I didn’t expect to see 30.’
Louganis’ Olympic career spanned three Games – Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, and Seoul 1988 – winning four golds and one silver. He missed out on the 1980 Moscow Games due to the U.S. boycott.
After retiring, he took on acting, motivational speaking, dog agility competitions, and commentary. He also came out as gay in 1994 and revealed the following year that he had been living with HIV since 1988.
Louganis sold two gold medals and one silver in an auction that dramatically exceeded expectations – with the trio fetching a combined $437,000, despite an initial estimate of $80,000.
‘I have auctioned three of my medals, which sold, I believe, because I went against what the ‘experts’ told me last time when I tried the first time,’ he explained.
‘I told the truth; I needed the money. While many people may have built businesses and sold them for a profit, I had my medals, which I am grateful for.’
Louganis said the decision to let go of so many possessions was inspired in part by the devastating Woolsey and Palisades wildfires
Louganis’ featured in three Olympic Games – Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988
The diving legend also confirmed that he has sold his longtime home in California, along with most of his personal belongings, to begin traveling light.
‘The other consideration is the sale of my house. I am VERY happy with whom I sold it to,’ he wrote.
‘I thanked and blessed the house to bring joy, love, peace, happiness, and a sense of safety to those who entered the house.’
Louganis said the decision to let go of so many possessions was inspired in part by the devastating Woolsey and Palisades wildfires, which destroyed the homes of several close friends.
‘I had many friends, people I was close to, [who] lost everything in the Woolsey Fire, and then the Palasades Fire just this year,’ he said.
‘I know I am choosing to do this, but their resilience is an inspiration for me to start anew, with an open heart and an open door. Opening up to possibilities.’
Despite his move abroad, he isn’t walking away from work altogether. Just last week, Variety reported that Louganis has signed with Innovative Artists Entertainment (IAE), where he’ll focus on TV hosting, endorsements, public speaking, and podcast development.
