Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story

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Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story
Breaking-the-Surface-The-Greg-Louganis-Story.jpg
Written byGreg Louganis (book)
Eric Marcus (book)
Alan Hines (written by)
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern
Starring Mario Lopez
Michael Murphy
Music byRichard Bellis
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersMark Bacino (producer)
Allen S. Epstein (executive producer)
Jim Green (executive producer)
Alan Hines (co-producer)
Andrew McLean (supervising producer)
Cinematography Michael Slovis
EditorPeter Svab
Running time95 minutes
Original release
ReleaseMarch 19, 1997 (1997-03-19)

Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story is a 1997 television film about diver Greg Louganis based on the 1996 best-selling book Breaking the Surface co-written by Greg Louganis and Eric Marcus that stayed on top of the New York Times Best Seller list for 5 weeks. [1] [2] This was Steven Hilliard Stern's final directed film before dying in 2018.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Plot

In Seoul, 1988, Greg Louganis (played by Mario Lopez) hits the diving board while plunging towards the water cutting his head open. Splashing into the water Greg begins to have flashbacks: as a young kid being ridiculed by neighborhood bullies; his adoptive father (played by Michael Murphy) is not accepting and overbearing; winning the silver medal; the 1982 world championship; two gold medals in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; the struggles of an abusive relationship with Tom Barrett; his father's terminal cancer; Tom's losing battle with AIDS and Greg's own HIV positive status. After doctors in Seoul stitch Greg's head wound, he returns to competition and picks up two more gold medals. After his father's death and Tom's lost AIDS' battle, Greg decides to come out and go public with every aspect of his life as a gay athlete.

Cast

Awards

Mario López was nominated for an ALMA Award for "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series in a Crossover Role".

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References

  1. "TBT: The Time Mario Lopez Was on the Cover of The Advocate in 1997". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  2. O'Neill, Tracy (2015-08-04). "Greg Louganis: Far From Falling". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-01-11.