Ended

The Greg Louganis Olympic Collection

14 September 2023 | starting at 12:00 PDT

Bonhams is proud to offer the Greg Louganis Olympic Collection, featuring two Olympic gold medals (1984, 1988) and one Olympic silver medal (1976) in men's diving, along with a collection of memorabilia from his competition days, including a scrapbook kept by his mother of the 1976 games, a competition swimsuit, and a score card from the 1984 games.

Greg Louganis is the greatest diver of all time, the only male athlete to win back-to-back gold medals in both springboard and platform at the Olympics (1984 and 1988). During his career he won of 5 Olympic medals, 5 World Championship titles, 6 Pan American titles and 47 national titles, a record that no other diver in the world has ever approached. His diving has been described as "poetry in motion"; to watch him gracefully spin and twist in the air before ripping cleanly through the surface of the pool is magical. Like all great athletes, he made the impossible look easy. It doesn't hurt that he is movie-star handsome with a perfect physique.

But Greg Louganis is more than the sum of his diving stats. He is also a gay icon, coming out publicly at the 1994 Gay Games and publishing a memoir in 1995 announcing his HIV+ status at a time when to do so was extremely polarising. Louganis wanted to show that HIV was no longer a death sentence, that people with HIV can achieve at the highest levels—and even win Olympic gold.

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19 lots available

1 —
A GREG LOUGANIS-SIGNED 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES POSTER.
Jeux de la / XXIe Olympiade / Montreal / 1976. Litho Canada, (c)1972.

Sold for US$384 inc. premium

GREG LOUGANIS'S DIVING BRIEFS FROM THE 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN MONTREAL. Men's diving brief trunks, "Mark Spitz" by Arena, size 30, in red, white and blue with repeating "USA" flag pattern, some wear and age as expected.

2 —
GREG LOUGANIS'S DIVING BRIEFS FROM THE 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN MONTREAL.
Men's diving brief trunks, "Mark Spitz" by Arena, size 30, in red, white and blue with repeating "USA" flag pattern, some wear and age as expected.

Sold for US$10,240 inc. premium

A 1976 OLYMPIC ALBUM CREATED BY GREG LOUGANIS'S MOTHER, FRANCES. "Olympics 1976 / Montreal / Canada." Folio album with 20 leaves, [El Cajon, CA, 1976], featuring photographs, telegrams and clippings documenting Greg Louganis's journey to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal,

3 —
A 1976 OLYMPIC ALBUM CREATED BY GREG LOUGANIS'S MOTHER, FRANCES.
"Olympics 1976 / Montreal / Canada." Folio album with 20 leaves, [El Cajon, CA, 1976], featuring photographs, telegrams and clippings documenting Greg Louganis's journey to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal,

US$3,000 - US$5,000

4 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1976 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM.
XXIe Olympiad Montreal 1976 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed.

US$200,000 - US$300,000

5 —
A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS MID-DIVE, SIGNED.
Color photograph, image of Louganis mid-air, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

Sold for US$2,816 inc. premium

A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS ENTERING THE WATER. Color photograph, image of Louganis entering the water, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

6 —
A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS ENTERING THE WATER.
Color photograph, image of Louganis entering the water, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

Sold for US$2,560 inc. premium

A MULTIPLE EXPOSURE SHOT OF GREG LOUGANIS DIVING. Color photograph, multi-exposure image of Louganis diving off the 10-meter platform at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

7 —
A MULTIPLE EXPOSURE SHOT OF GREG LOUGANIS DIVING.
Color photograph, multi-exposure image of Louganis diving off the 10-meter platform at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

Sold for US$1,024 inc. premium

A PAIR OF OFFICIAL 1984 OLYMPIC POSTERS, BOTH SIGNED BY GREG LOUGANIS. 1. Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984. San Francisco: L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee, 1983.

8 —
A PAIR OF OFFICIAL 1984 OLYMPIC POSTERS, BOTH SIGNED BY GREG LOUGANIS.
1.
Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984. San Francisco: L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee, 1983.

Sold for US$768 inc. premium

A GREG LOUGANIS 1984 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S THREE-METER SPRINGBOARD. XXIII OLYMPIAD LOS ANGELES 1984 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / SPRINGBOARD / MEN.

9 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1984 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S THREE-METER SPRINGBOARD.
XXIII OLYMPIAD LOS ANGELES 1984 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / SPRINGBOARD / MEN.

US$600,000 - US$900,000

A SIGNED COPY OF THE 1984 OLYMPIC SPRINGBOARD DIVING RESULTS. Games of the / XXIIIrd Olympiad / Los Angeles 1984 ... Results ... Men/Springboard Diving Final .... Printed sheet signed ("Greg Louganis"), 1 p, 280 x 215 mm (11 x 8.5 inches), Los Angeles, August 8, 1984, listing the top 12 competitors for the Men's Springboard Diving final,

10 —
A SIGNED COPY OF THE 1984 OLYMPIC SPRINGBOARD DIVING RESULTS.
Games of the / XXIIIrd Olympiad / Los Angeles 1984 ... Results ... Men/Springboard Diving Final .... Printed sheet signed ("Greg Louganis"), 1 p, 280 x 215 mm (11 x 8.5 inches), Los Angeles, August 8, 1984, listing the top 12 competitors for the Men's Springboard Diving final,

US$1,500 - US$2,000

LOUGANIS AT THE 1984 OLYMPIC MEDAL CEREMONY FOR MEN'S PLATFORM DIVING. Color photograph, long shot of Louganis on the podium for the men's platform diving, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics,

11 —
LOUGANIS AT THE 1984 OLYMPIC MEDAL CEREMONY FOR MEN'S PLATFORM DIVING.
Color photograph, long shot of Louganis on the podium for the men's platform diving, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics,

Sold for US$704 inc. premium

A U.S. CAPITOL-FLOWN AMERICAN FLAG PRESENTED TO GREG LOUGANIS. United States 50-star flag, 36 x 60 inches (915 x 1525 mm), Dura-Lite by Dettra Flag, pieced nylon, header with two grommets, embroidered stars, minimal wear.

12 —
A U.S. CAPITOL-FLOWN AMERICAN FLAG PRESENTED TO GREG LOUGANIS.
United States 50-star flag, 36 x 60 inches (915 x 1525 mm), Dura-Lite by Dettra Flag, pieced nylon, header with two grommets, embroidered stars, minimal wear.

US$1,500 - US$2,000

A HERB RITTS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS. RITTS, HERB. 1952-2002. Gelatin silver print portrait of Louganis, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right and stamped by the photographer (©Herb Ritts) to verso.

13 —
A HERB RITTS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS.
RITTS, HERB. 1952-2002.
Gelatin silver print portrait of Louganis, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right and stamped by the photographer (©Herb Ritts) to verso.

Sold for US$2,560 inc. premium

GREG LOUGANIS IN PIKE POSITION. Gelatin silver print photograph, 305 x 202 mm (12 x 10 inches) of Louganis diving off a 10-meter platform, signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right corner.

14 —
GREG LOUGANIS IN PIKE POSITION.
Gelatin silver print photograph, 305 x 202 mm (12 x 10 inches) of Louganis diving off a 10-meter platform, signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right corner.

Sold for US$3,200 inc. premium

A GREG LOUGANIS 1988 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM. XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / MEN / PLATFORM.

15 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1988 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM.
XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / MEN / PLATFORM.

US$800,000 - US$1,200,000

16 —
A PAIR OF GREG LOUGANIS SPEEDO DIVING BRIEFS.
Men's diving brief trunks by Speedo, size 28, in red, white and blue with "USA" stripe pattern,

Sold for US$2,176 inc. premium

A KURT MARKUS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS. MARKUS, KURT. 1947-2022. Greg Louganis, Hawaii, 1988. Gelatin silver print of Louganis' legs and torso, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right, signed by the photographer ("Kurt Markus") at lower right, titled and signed on verso, 2008, with note ("Print made 1988").

17 —
A KURT MARKUS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS.
MARKUS, KURT. 1947-2022.
Greg Louganis, Hawaii, 1988. Gelatin silver print of Louganis' legs and torso, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right, signed by the photographer ("Kurt Markus") at lower right, titled and signed on verso, 2008, with note ("Print made 1988").

Sold for US$3,200 inc. premium

AN ANNOTATED MANUSCRIPT OF BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY. LOUGANIS, GREG and ERIC MARCUS. Typed Manuscript with Annotations, marked "First Draft" of Breaking the Surface,

18 —
AN ANNOTATED MANUSCRIPT OF BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY.
LOUGANIS, GREG and ERIC MARCUS.
Typed Manuscript with Annotations, marked "First Draft" of Breaking the Surface,

Sold for US$768 inc. premium

GREG LOUGANIS'S COPY OF THE TELESCRIPT FOR BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY. Typed Manuscript Signed ("Greg Louganis"), the working script for the TV movie based upon Louganis's memoir, 106 pp, 4to, Studio City, CA, March 15, 1996,

19 —
GREG LOUGANIS'S COPY OF THE TELESCRIPT FOR BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY.
Typed Manuscript Signed ("Greg Louganis"), the working script for the TV movie based upon Louganis's memoir, 106 pp, 4to, Studio City, CA, March 15, 1996,

Sold for US$3,840 inc. premium

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Tel: +1 323 436 5442

[email protected]

Katie Allen

Sale Coordinator

Tel: +1 323 436 5453

[email protected]

Claire Tole-Moir

Head of Department

Tel: +44 020 7393 3984

[email protected]

News and stories

Read Story

American Olympic Diver Greg Louganis Sells His Medals at Bonhams: Considered the greatest diver in history, Louganis is also an LGBTQ+ advocate and seeks to raise money for the causes he supports

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The Greg Louganis Olympic Collection

Lot gallery

1 — A GREG LOUGANIS-SIGNED 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES POSTER. Jeux de la / XXIe Olympiade / Montreal / 1976. Litho Canada, (c)1972.

2 — GREG LOUGANIS'S DIVING BRIEFS FROM THE 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN MONTREAL. Men's diving brief trunks, "Mark Spitz" by Arena, size 30, in red, white and blue with repeating "USA" flag pattern, some wear and age as expected.

3 — A 1976 OLYMPIC ALBUM CREATED BY GREG LOUGANIS'S MOTHER, FRANCES. "Olympics 1976 / Montreal / Canada." Folio album with 20 leaves, [El Cajon, CA, 1976], featuring photographs, telegrams and clippings documenting Greg Louganis's journey to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal,

4 — A GREG LOUGANIS 1976 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM. XXIe Olympiad Montreal 1976 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed.

5 — A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS MID-DIVE, SIGNED. Color photograph, image of Louganis mid-air, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

6 — A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS ENTERING THE WATER. Color photograph, image of Louganis entering the water, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

7 — A MULTIPLE EXPOSURE SHOT OF GREG LOUGANIS DIVING. Color photograph, multi-exposure image of Louganis diving off the 10-meter platform at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

8 — A PAIR OF OFFICIAL 1984 OLYMPIC POSTERS, BOTH SIGNED BY GREG LOUGANIS. 1. Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984. San Francisco: L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee, 1983.

9 — A GREG LOUGANIS 1984 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S THREE-METER SPRINGBOARD. XXIII OLYMPIAD LOS ANGELES 1984 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / SPRINGBOARD / MEN.

11 — LOUGANIS AT THE 1984 OLYMPIC MEDAL CEREMONY FOR MEN'S PLATFORM DIVING. Color photograph, long shot of Louganis on the podium for the men's platform diving, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics,

12 — A U.S. CAPITOL-FLOWN AMERICAN FLAG PRESENTED TO GREG LOUGANIS. United States 50-star flag, 36 x 60 inches (915 x 1525 mm), Dura-Lite by Dettra Flag, pieced nylon, header with two grommets, embroidered stars, minimal wear.

13 — A HERB RITTS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS. RITTS, HERB. 1952-2002. Gelatin silver print portrait of Louganis, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right and stamped by the photographer (©Herb Ritts) to verso.

14 — GREG LOUGANIS IN PIKE POSITION. Gelatin silver print photograph, 305 x 202 mm (12 x 10 inches) of Louganis diving off a 10-meter platform, signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right corner.

15 — A GREG LOUGANIS 1988 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM. XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / MEN / PLATFORM.

16 — A PAIR OF GREG LOUGANIS SPEEDO DIVING BRIEFS. Men's diving brief trunks by Speedo, size 28, in red, white and blue with "USA" stripe pattern,

18 — AN ANNOTATED MANUSCRIPT OF BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY. LOUGANIS, GREG and ERIC MARCUS. Typed Manuscript with Annotations, marked "First Draft" of Breaking the Surface,

19 — GREG LOUGANIS'S COPY OF THE TELESCRIPT FOR BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY. Typed Manuscript Signed ("Greg Louganis"), the working script for the TV movie based upon Louganis's memoir, 106 pp, 4to, Studio City, CA, March 15, 1996,

Specialist contacts

Catherine Williamson

Katie Allen

Client Services (San Francisco)

Client Services (Los Angeles)

Client Services (New York)

Claire Tole-Moir

News and stories

Video | The Greg Louganis Olympic Collection

A Closer Look | Greg Louganis Going for Gold

In at the deep end | Bonhams Magazine #76

American Olympic Diver Greg Louganis Sells His Medals at Bonhams: Considered the greatest diver in history, Louganis is also an LGBTQ+ advocate and seeks to raise money for the causes he supports

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1 —
A GREG LOUGANIS-SIGNED 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES POSTER.
Jeux de la / XXIe Olympiade / Montreal / 1976. Litho Canada, (c)1972.

2 —
GREG LOUGANIS'S DIVING BRIEFS FROM THE 1976 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN MONTREAL.
Men's diving brief trunks, "Mark Spitz" by Arena, size 30, in red, white and blue with repeating "USA" flag pattern, some wear and age as expected.

3 —
A 1976 OLYMPIC ALBUM CREATED BY GREG LOUGANIS'S MOTHER, FRANCES.
"Olympics 1976 / Montreal / Canada." Folio album with 20 leaves, [El Cajon, CA, 1976], featuring photographs, telegrams and clippings documenting Greg Louganis's journey to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal,

4 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1976 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM.
XXIe Olympiad Montreal 1976 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed.

5 —
A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS MID-DIVE, SIGNED.
Color photograph, image of Louganis mid-air, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

6 —
A 1981 PORTRAIT OF LOUGANIS ENTERING THE WATER.
Color photograph, image of Louganis entering the water, likely taken at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

7 —
A MULTIPLE EXPOSURE SHOT OF GREG LOUGANIS DIVING.
Color photograph, multi-exposure image of Louganis diving off the 10-meter platform at the Mission Viejo Aquatic Center,

8 —
A PAIR OF OFFICIAL 1984 OLYMPIC POSTERS, BOTH SIGNED BY GREG LOUGANIS.
1.
Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984. San Francisco: L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee, 1983.

9 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1984 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S THREE-METER SPRINGBOARD.
XXIII OLYMPIAD LOS ANGELES 1984 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / SPRINGBOARD / MEN.

11 —
LOUGANIS AT THE 1984 OLYMPIC MEDAL CEREMONY FOR MEN'S PLATFORM DIVING.
Color photograph, long shot of Louganis on the podium for the men's platform diving, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics,

12 —
A U.S. CAPITOL-FLOWN AMERICAN FLAG PRESENTED TO GREG LOUGANIS.
United States 50-star flag, 36 x 60 inches (915 x 1525 mm), Dura-Lite by Dettra Flag, pieced nylon, header with two grommets, embroidered stars, minimal wear.

13 —
A HERB RITTS PORTRAIT OF GREG LOUGANIS.
RITTS, HERB. 1952-2002.
Gelatin silver print portrait of Louganis, 355 x 278 mm (14 x 11 inches), signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right and stamped by the photographer (©Herb Ritts) to verso.

14 —
GREG LOUGANIS IN PIKE POSITION.
Gelatin silver print photograph, 305 x 202 mm (12 x 10 inches) of Louganis diving off a 10-meter platform, signed ("Greg Louganis") at lower right corner.

15 —
A GREG LOUGANIS 1988 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, MEN'S TEN-METER PLATFORM.
XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988 on obverse in field; reverse uninscribed. Edge lettering of DIVING / MEN / PLATFORM.

16 —
A PAIR OF GREG LOUGANIS SPEEDO DIVING BRIEFS.
Men's diving brief trunks by Speedo, size 28, in red, white and blue with "USA" stripe pattern,

18 —
AN ANNOTATED MANUSCRIPT OF BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY.
LOUGANIS, GREG and ERIC MARCUS.
Typed Manuscript with Annotations, marked "First Draft" of Breaking the Surface,

19 —
GREG LOUGANIS'S COPY OF THE TELESCRIPT FOR BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY.
Typed Manuscript Signed ("Greg Louganis"), the working script for the TV movie based upon Louganis's memoir, 106 pp, 4to, Studio City, CA, March 15, 1996,