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Out Olympic Icon Greg Louganis Sells Home and Medals, Begins New Life Abroad
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In a move that has resonated deeply within both the sports and LGBTQ+ communities, Greg Louganis—widely regarded as one of the greatest divers in Olympic history—auctioned three of his most treasured medals for a combined total of more than $430,000 at RR Auction’s Summer 2025 Olympic Memorabilia sale. Among the pieces sold were his iconic gold medals from the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Games, and a silver medal from the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The 1988 gold, a symbol of Louganis’s dramatic comeback after a head injury, fetched $201,314, while the 1984 gold brought in $199,301; the 1976 silver sold for $30,250 .
The sale of these medals, each representing years of sacrifice and triumph, was not motivated by nostalgia or profit alone. Louganis, who at age 65 has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and HIV/AIDS awareness since the 1990s, stated candidly that he needed the proceeds to fund a major life transition: relocating abroad to begin a new chapter . “While many people may have built businesses and sold them for a profit, I had my medals, which I am grateful for,” Louganis shared in a social media post, reflecting on the practical and symbolic weight of his decision.
The sale of Louganis’s Topanga, California, home marked another significant turning point. According to public records, the residence sold for $750,000 in late August 2025 . Louganis also donated, sold, or gifted most of his remaining possessions—a process he described as both practical and profoundly emotional. “The memories will always be in here,” he said, placing his hand over his heart in a video shared on Instagram. “And so the other things are just stuff, you know? We don’t realize how much we hang on to, and what I’m also learning now in this process is how oftentimes we don’t realize they weigh us down. You know, like the shipping, the storage, all of that stuff,” he said .
Louganis referenced recent California wildfires that devastated friends’ homes as part of his inspiration to embrace change, noting that “their resilience is an inspiration for me to start anew, with an open heart and an open door. Opening up to possibilities.”
Now living in Panama, Louganis has been open about his reasons for leaving the United States and the personal journey he hopes to undertake. “Now I get to discover who is Greg Louganis? Without the distraction and noise from outside. At least this is my goal, and hey, I may not find that. I think I may find it at times, in moments, my goal is to live it! Discover, allow, and nurture that human spirit through the experiences of life,” he wrote on Facebook .
Louganis’s openness about his identity has made him a trailblazer both inside and outside the pool. He came out as gay in 1994 and disclosed his HIV-positive status a year later, at a time when both stigmas were powerful and potentially career-ending. Over the decades, he has used his platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and HIV/AIDS awareness, working with organizations and sharing his story to inspire resilience and authenticity .
His decision to start anew in Panama is not just a personal journey but also one that resonates with LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide who may feel the need to seek spaces where they can live more freely or authentically. Louganis has emphasized that, even as he lets go of physical reminders of his athletic triumphs, the meaning and memory of those experiences live on—a sentiment that has been met with an outpouring of support from fans and advocates alike.
Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, commented on the broader significance of Louganis’s decision: “When an icon like Greg parts with his medals, it’s a moment that goes far beyond the auction block. We were honored to play a role in it” .
