Greg Louganis is auctioning off three of his Olympic medals to benefit LGBTQ and AIDS organizations.
The diver, who came out as gay and HIV-positive in the mid-90s, said selling them,
enables the medals to go beyond me.
…they’re in the history books. Instead of holding on to them, I’m aiming to share my piece of Olympic history with collectors; together, we can help the Damien Center and its community to grow and thrive.”
Louganis hopes to name two areas of the Damien Center for two people dear to him: his mother, Frances Louganis and Ryan White, the teenager who died of AIDS in the 1990 and brought so much compassion and attention to the cause.
Louganis won two other medals as well, but gave one to his coach and another to the mother of Ryan White.
NBC Los Angeles reports that the trio—a silver from 1976 and two golds from 1984 and 1988—could bring in more than $2 million for charity.
Currently the bid for the silver medal is $350k, and the two golds are $750k the come with Lougnanis’ swimsuit and a signed poster.
(Photos, screen grabs, YouTube; via Out Sports)
