A Greg Louganis Documentary In the Works

An award-winning documentary duo--Will Sweeney and Charyl Furjanic--are attempting to resurrect the mystique around Olympic legend Greg Louganis. They currently have a Kickstarter campaign to raise additional funds for the film, titled Back on Board, Greg Louganis, and will be in London during the 2012 Olympics to tape footage of him returning to the sport of diving after a 20-year absence.

"We are excited to film Greg in London during the Olympics," said director Cheryl Furjanic. "We will be there to capture the culmination of his return to the sport of diving after a 20-year absence. An absence that was caused, in part, by Greg feeling unwelcome due to homophobia."

As many will recall, Louganis won golds at the 1988 Seoul Olympics after hitting his head on the diving board. It was later learned that he was HIV positive. The out athlete penned a memoir, Breaking the Surface, in 1995, which detailed his surprising battle with low self-esteem and his abusive relationships. It was later adapted into a 1997 TV movie and Mario Lopez famously portrayed the ripped athlete. Since then, he has been forgotten by many. Now he is working as a mentor to the USA's current diving team, and the filmmakers think it is time that his reputation and importance is remembered by a new generation.

Furjanic continued, "As a gay filmmaker, I've always admired Greg, and I see this film as an opportunity to reintroduce a true pioneer to the American public."

To learn more or donate to the film, check out the Kickstarter page.