---
product_id: 1702856
title: "Breaking the Surface: How Greg Louganis Overcame Prejudice to Take Home Olympic Gold (LGBTQ+ Sports Memoir) Paperback – March 1, 2006"
brand: "greg louganiseric marcus"
price: "€ 48.70"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1702856-breaking-the-surface-how-greg-louganis-overcame-prejudice-to-take
store_origin: SK
region: Slovakia
---

# Breaking the Surface: How Greg Louganis Overcame Prejudice to Take Home Olympic Gold (LGBTQ+ Sports Memoir) Paperback – March 1, 2006

**Brand:** greg louganiseric marcus
**Price:** € 48.70
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Breaking the Surface: How Greg Louganis Overcame Prejudice to Take Home Olympic Gold (LGBTQ+ Sports Memoir) Paperback – March 1, 2006 by greg louganiseric marcus
- **How much does it cost?** € 48.70 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sk](https://www.desertcart.sk/products/1702856-breaking-the-surface-how-greg-louganis-overcame-prejudice-to-take)

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Absorbing, human, sad, heroic.
  

*by O***Z on Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2016*

A great book. The story is gripping and very moving, Louganis is very frank about his biography and his emotional world. This man achieved unsurpassed athletic greatness; against the backdrop of truly harrowing social, emotional, physical and familial circumstances. Generally written in a very straightforward, plain language; this book is both an absorbing page-turner; and an inspiring document on humanity.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Breaking The Surface
  

*by C***B on Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2013*

Greg Louganis captured our hearts, minds and the spirit of the American dream in his quest for Olympic Gold.  Over his many years in competition no one knew the anguish he suffered stemming from years of self doubt and recrimination.  Diving became his way of expression. His quest for perfection, born from the burning desire to shout out to the world that he was never less than his fellows, was riddled with self loathing for the secrets he held so close. Each time he towered high above us on the boards or the platform he had the ability to block out all else but the dive he was about to attempt. He was never less than poetry in motion.  He seemed perfect in every way.  Understated and humble, this very handsome, extraordinarily built and sculpted figure of a young man thrilled us every moment he was in our sights and we cheered him, urged him and all but willed him to greatness.  Such was our love of him and such was our awe of his abilities.  There came a day, as it comes for all athletes, when the Olympic competition we were watching would be his last. It was 1988 and as he prepared for the preliminary dive and jettisoned himself from that board, we heard the dreadful sound that would shake the Olympic world to its very foundations and would cut Greg Louganis open to his very core.  The wound to his head was not a large one in size but the scope of that injury would cause his life to begin to unravel as the eyes of the world were upon him.  We breathed a sigh of relief when we were informed that he was sufficiently recovered to continue the competition.  His scores plummeted as a result of that terrible encounter with the board but at least he survived it.  No one expected him to win the competition and it would be the last time we would ever watch him compete. As sad as the moment seemed, it was all OK because Louganis was OK...and we all thanked the respective gods! The applause was thunderous as he mounted the steps to this last Olympic moment.  Suddenly the audience fell silent.  At home, we held our collective breath as we watched him mentally prepare himself for the dive that had almost taken his life.  As he took his first step you could almost feel the tension start to tear away at the crowd leaning forward in their seats to witness this moment and before we were able to blink, this bronzed Adonis broke the surface of the water with hardly a sound. There was a nano-second of complete silence and then, the muffled roar of the crowd was heard from below the water line.  It was absolute and it was ear shattering as his head came back up through to the surface.  He had done it!  He had clinched the Gold once again and had won medals in three consecutive Olympics!  Hundreds of thousands of people around the world cheered this unbelievable hero, this perfect being, this athlete who graced our lives with the beauty of his gift.  What was happening behind the scenes was as dramatic as anything we saw that day.  Only his trainer, his doctor and himself knew the truth of what that injury might mean to other athletes but it would still be six long years before the secret would be revealed!  When the news broke in 1994, primarily as a result of this book, the world again held its breath...for its hero had all but toppled from Mount Olympus with the headline.  Greg Louganis was gay, HIV positive and had been already been diagnosed six months before the 1988 Olympics!  The questions were obvious...Why had he not told anyone, How could he risk the lives of others,  WHY???  This, then is the story of who Greg Louganis really was and what molded him to become the greatest diver the world has ever known and the reticent poster boy for yet another generation of gay men.  It is the story of courage so great and abuse so intense that lesser beings would, perhaps, not have withstood it. It is the story of a very private man whose life had suddenly burst open and was  thrust upon the world.  It is a story not to be missed for it is the story of survival, recovery and redemption of one of our most highly respected and best loved athletes.  We knew the competitor...now, enter and come to know the man!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Bravo Greg!!
  

*by L***Y on Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2015*

I always loved watching Greg dive. I saw the documentary he did for HBO, it made me want to read the book. I think it was well written. I enjoyed his open honesty about his difficult childhood and coming out about being gay. I read a few reviews where the reviewers said Greg whined all through the book. I totally disagree! He was open, honest and opened his heart up to tell his story to his fans. I also believe he did get cheated by not being featured on a Wheaties box or have many more promotional deals.  I've always believed you are born with the feelings it isn't a choice. Greg made me understand how hard he struggled with those feelings from such a young age. How he had girlfriends but was attracted to men. I loved how he said he can appreciate the beauty when he sees a beautiful woman. He was a handsome young man and still is. I feel bad that he had some volatile relationships. I'm so very happy he found a good man in his husband. I wish them nothing but love and happiness. I think Greg is a excellent role model for our youth. I have several gay friends and a couple family members. I have the up most respect for any gay person that is honest about who they are and live life to the fullest. I however do not have a ounce of respect for someone that knows they are gay and marry someone of the opposite sex. It happened to me in 1988, to this day he has never admitted his homosexuality to me. Nor has he apologized for all the people he hurt and $ my parents wasted on a big wedding. He is now married to his high school sweetheart, I know this because I found his mom on social media. A coward not a brave man like Greg.I think this is the perfect book for anyone who loved watching Greg dive and for anyone struggling with their sexuality. Bravo Greg!

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*Product available on Desertcart Slovakia*
*Store origin: SK*
*Last updated: 2026-03-04*