U.S. Olympic legend Greg Louganis sells medals to help fund move to Panama: ‘I needed the money’

Five-time Olympic medalist Greg Louganis parted with most of his hardware to help fund his move to Panama, he said in a Facebook post.

Louganis, a legendary diver who won four golds and one silver between 1976 and 1988, auctioned off three medals because he “needed the money,” he wrote. The 65-year-old said he also sold his house.

“While many people may have built businesses and sold them for a profit, I had my medals, which I am grateful for,” Louganis wrote.

According to SwimSwam, Louganis earned $430,000 from the auction. Now, Louganis said he is approaching his new move abroad with “an open heart and an open door.”

An unbelievable moment. An unforgettable champion.🥇
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“I realized I often close myself off, shut myself down, and play small for the comfort of others,” he wrote. “I don’t think I have realized or given myself credit for what I might be able to accomplish. Like I said in an earlier post, ‘I was an instrument of my coach’s, Ron O’Brien’s, creation.’ I was honored, proud, and blessed to have been that for him. It was all achieved with love at the core.

“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.”

Louganis’ career spanned three Olympic Games from Montreal in 1976 to Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 (The U.S. boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow). In Montreal, Louganis captured silver in the 10-meter platform at just 16 years old. He easily won two golds in L.A., winning in the springboard and platform events.

In Seoul, Louganis became the first male diver to sweep the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events in back-to-back Olympic Games.

(Photo: Michael Tullberg / Getty Images)