Greg Louganis, widely considered the greatest diver in history, is the featured speaker for New Beginnings, the April 12 fund-raiser benefitting the Open Door clinics in Aurora and Elgin that provide education, testing and treatment for individuals with sexually transmitted infections.
Louganis, who won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games on both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform, is the only male and the second diver in Olympic history to sweep the diving events in consecutive Olympic Games.
In all, he earned five Olympic medals, five world championship titles and 47 national titles more than any individual in U.S. history. Louganis received the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Award in 1984, the Jesse Owens Award In 1987 and the U.S. Olympic Committee's Robert J. Kane Award in 1994. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1993. In February 1995, Louganis shocked the world when he announced that he is gay and HIV positive. The news came ahead of the release of his autobiography, Breaking the Surface, in which he candidly discusses the struggles he faced on his way to gold medal glory. Louganis will share more of his story of what it means to be gay and living with HIV/AIDS in a special presentation during the New Beginnings fund-raiser on April 12 at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner, cocktails, a silent auction and photo opportunities with Louganis.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.opendoorclinic.org .
About Open Door
Open Door is a non-profit ( 501c3 ) healthcare organization established in 1977 by grassroots organizations that identified the need to provide education, testing and treatment for individuals with sexually transmitted infections. As it became evident that HIV/AIDS would become a major health concern, Open Door expanded its services and now serves residents throughout northern Illinois at facilities in Aurora and Elgin. For more information, visit www.opendoorclinic.org .