Speedo Sunday

Greg Louganis hasn't competed for gold in nearly 18 years, but the former Olympian is still a main draw at the Speedo USA Diving Grand Prix.



It has been nearly 18 years since Greg Louganis, a former diver for the University of Miami, won double gold in the 1988 Seoul Games.

How time flies. Louganis is 46 years old now.

''And I've earned every gray hair,'' he said.

Louganis, the American diving icon and four-time Olympic gold medalist, is in Fort Lauderdale this weekend to promote the 2006 Speedo USA Diving Grand Prix at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex, an international competition featuring some of the world's best divers.

He will sign autographs an hour before today's 12:30 p.m. opening ceremonies. The Grand Prix began Thursday and ends Sunday.

It was at Seoul where Louganis earned gold in the men's 3-meter springboard despite hitting his head on the board during the competition's preliminary round.

''It's hard to forget when everyone still asks you questions about it,'' said Louganis, who also won Seoul gold in the 10-meter platform.

``I was so embarrassed that I didn't want to get out of the pool.''



ON HIS WAY

Louganis was poolside Friday for the men's 10-meter platform semifinals to watch rising star Thomas Finchum, a 16-year-old American. Finchum was the 2005 national champion in the platform.

''Thomas is on his way,'' Louganis said. ``He's gone through a big growing spurt, but he's got a good head on his shoulders.''

Finchum placed seventh in Thursday's platform semifinals, leaving him out of Sunday's final. Although Finchum failed to qualify, the U.S. will not go without representation. David Boudia earned a spot in the finals. Christina Loukas advanced to Sunday's final in the women's 3-meter.

In Friday's feature event, China's Li Ting and Guo Jingjing won the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard final. Li and Guo won synchro gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The women's platform final begins at 1 p.m. today, followed by the men's 3-meter springboard final and the women's synchronized platform final.

Louganis, who in 1994 disclosed that he had been HIV-positive since early 1988, said that he was recently hospitalized for a week because of a staph infection in his left leg.

''The leg was a bit of a setback,'' Louganis said. ``I just overextended myself.''



A NEW CAREER

He has pursued an acting career since his diving retirement, and recently completed work on an independent film.

''I played a [swimming] coach,'' Louganis said. ``It was so fun.

``I was really a jerk.''

The part was out of character for Louganis, whose positive attitude and charismatic personality have been highlights at this weekend's Grand Prix.

He's still sponsored by Speedo, a company that remained loyal to him when other corporate sponsors severed ties after his disclosure.

When he's not acting, which Louganis admits doesn't happen as often as he would like (``I don't have an agent but that doesn't mean I don't want one''), the former Olympian devotes most of his time to AIDS awareness, mentoring young divers, animal rescue and his dogs. Louganis owns two Jack Russell terriers and a border collie who compete in national dog-agility contests.

He's also a promoter for the Gay Games, which will be held this summer in Chicago.

''It's an event to instill self-esteem in the gay community through sport,'' Louganis said. ``And it's open to anyone.''


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