Greg Louganis Sold His Olympic Medals in Order to Move Out of the U.S.

Olympic legend Greg Louganis recently moved out of the United States — but not before parting with some very valuable hardware. 

Louganis, a five-time Olympic medalist in diving, took to social media on Friday, August 29, to announce that he “auctioned three of my medals” in anticipation of a move to Panama. 

“I needed the money,” Louganis, 65, wrote via Facebook. 

Louganis added, “If I had proper management, I might not have been in that position, but what is done is done; live and learn.”

The Olympian also revealed he had sold his house, saying he was “very happy” with the new owners. 

“I thanked and blessed the house to bring joy, love, peace, happiness, and a sense of safety to those who entered the house,” Louganis wrote. 

Louganis said he had been galvanized to move away from the United States and place less emphasis on material things after he had “many friends” lose their homes and possessions in the devastating California wildfires 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 explained. “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.”

During his diving career, Louganis admitted to feeling like a “creation” of his 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.”

In a video posted via Instagram on Saturday, August 30, Louganis said he and his dog, G, made it to Panama City, with the western Panamanian town of David listed as their final destination.