Three of Greg Louganis‘s Olympic diving medals have recently sold at market for a combined total of $430,865 in RR Auction’s Summer 2025 Olympic sale. The high number exemplifies Louganis’s legacy both in the sport and in cultural history.
The auction had Louganis’s 10-meter platform gold medal from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which earned $201,314, his 3-meter springboard gold from the 1984 Los Angeles Games, which earned $199,301, and his 10-meter platform event silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Games, which earned $30,250.
Learn more about the medals and Louganis’s history below.
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Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis is not only known for his achievements in diving but also for his role in transforming conversations surrounding athletics, identity, and stigma.
At a time when visibility and honesty about sexual orientation and health were basically unheard of in sports, Louganis revealed his homosexuality in 1994 during the Gay Game IV in New York. Later, he even disclosed his HIV-positive status in an interview.
Through these revelations and his memoir Breaking the Surface, Louganis helped shift sports conversations to greater inclusion and understanding.
His Olympic Medals
The story behind Louganis’s Olympic medals contributed significantly to their auction values. His 1988 platform gold medal is especially unique, embodying a comeback story that became part of Olympic lore.
The over $400,000 sale just goes to show the collector’s appreciation for both the medals’ historical significance and Louganis’s place in Olympic history.
Before the auction closed on July 17th, Louganis expressed his openness to parting with his medals. In an interview, he mentioned that his possessions had begun to “own” him.
Instead, at 65 years old, Louganis wants to move forward and have the medals appreciated by others. This links to a broader life reset by the swimmer, who is selling his home and relocating overseas.
Check Out: 10 Most Valuable Olympic Memorabilia Pieces
Missed Opportunities
Louganis’ Olympic journey wasn’t just all medals and success; he suffered a few missed opportunities, too. This includes the 1980 Moscow Games boycott, which prevented many top American athletes from competing in the games.
Despite this setback, his legacy remains timeless, dominated by resiliency, excellence, and a lasting impact on sports and culture.
Emblems of a Deeper Story
Medals are not just emblematic artifacts that show athletic excellence, but reveal a complex, groundbreaking personal story of how the winner got to that point.
For collectors, these medals feature Olympic excellence and perseverance that many do not achieve. For Louganis, these sales will fund the next chapter in his life and open it to new possibilities.
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This impactful sale is a great reminder that sporting history is inextricably tied with real human experiences, and often the most valuable objects carry stories much deeper than the medal itself.
