Olympic icon Greg Louganis returned to the United States for the holidays — but the American diving legend didn’t stick around for long after announcing his big life change earlier this year.
Louganis, 65, traveled to Hawaii to visit his family — including his father, sisters and brother — for a quick visit before heading back to Panama, his current home.
“My biological father lives here,” Louganis detailed in a video posted via Instagram on Monday, December 29. “It’s been a great visit.”
In addition to spending some quality time with his family, Louganis met some “really wonderful people” in an LGBTQIA+ hiking group.
“I got together with the group and we did this little hike,” he said. “It was just a little hike. It was over before I felt it started. But it was nice. It was more of a social thing.”
Louganis added, “It’s been a good visit here. Also kind of reaffirming that it was a good time to make those changes. So many of my friends are dispersing to different parts of the world, which is really cool.”
In August, Louganis revealed he “auctioned three of my medals” and sold his house to afford the move to Panama.
Despite the productive Hawaiian visit, Louganis admitted he was excited to get back to his new home.
“I think I’m going to be in Panama for a while,” he said with a laugh. “That will be nice.”
Louganis clarified that he “didn’t move” to Panama for good, but hinted that a permanent relocation isn’t out of the question.
“I’m not getting a hold of attorneys and changing my citizenship or anything like that,” he added. “But that’s a possibility.”
Louganis surprised many of his fans when he abruptly announced he’d be leaving the United States. The move was made even more surprising by Louganis’ candid admission about his own financial status.
“I needed the money,” Louganis wrote via Facebook about selling his medals and house.
He added, “If I had proper management, I might not have been in that position, but what is done is done; live and learn.”
Louganis explained that his decision to relocate was largely inspired by the “many friends” who lost their homes and possessions during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.
“I know I am choosing to do this, but their resilience is an inspiration for me to start anew, with an open heart and an open door,” Louganis said. “Opening up to possibilities. I realized I often close myself off, shut myself down, and play small for the comfort of others.”
He added, “I don’t think I have realized or given myself credit for what I might be able to accomplish.”
In addition, Louganis said he often felt like a “creation” of his former diving coach, Ron O’Brien.
“I was honored, proud, and blessed to have been that for him,” Louganis said. “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.”
He continued, “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. To be joyful in the moments, embrace the grief, the anger, and the laughter, and embrace it all, feel it all in this experience we call our lives.”
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