1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,119 Speaker 1: Well, Bowen, I think this may just be the luckiest 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: day of our lives and our listeners' lives, because we 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: have a true legend. And when does that happen? Certainly 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: not when it's just us talking. 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 2: Not when it's just us talking. I feel like I 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 2: about to dive off the three meter springboard into iconography with. 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Oh man, Yes, we made a vested, didn't we We 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: sure did, and the puns are already flying. Our producer 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: made one before we got on. Bowen, just made one 10 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: before we make a third and embarrass ourselves already. Let's introduce, 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: I mean, just one of the all time greats. He's 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: already up and at him this morning. He's got a 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: school event he's fitting us in where the schedule is 14 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: jam packed. Everyone. Please welcome four time Olympic gold medalist 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: Greg lugayin us. Everybody, Hey, hi, Hi, how you doing. 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: We're good, We're not as we're not as active as 17 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: your today. What's the school event you're going to? 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 3: Okay, So in Oxnard, the school district in Auxnard, they're 19 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 3: doing an Olympic Day. So they invited some Olympians and 20 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 3: Paralympians and we've been going to schools and chatting with 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 3: the kids in the morning and then we play games 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,639 Speaker 3: in the afternoon. Yesterday we were dancing. We were learning, 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 3: you know, a dance hip hop. It's been fun. It's 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 3: been like, how are you with a hip hop combo? 25 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 3: Can you tear it up? 26 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: Yeah? 27 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 3: I do pretty good, you know, I can hold my own. 28 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 3: I mean even at sixty four, you know. Yeah, the 29 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 3: kids were like, you're what you was sixty four? 30 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: Oh my god, you're keeping it tight, sir. 31 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do my bast I try hard. 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: Listen. Not everyone can say that that Mario Lopus played 33 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: them in a movie. 34 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 3: Oh I know, right, Oh my god. I mean I 35 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 3: should be so lucky, you know. I told him, I said, yeah, 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 3: I should look so good. 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: You know. I don't know. 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: We were talking about this the other episode because you've 39 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: come up more times and we were like breaking the 40 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: surface the film. I feel like, I feel like you'd 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 2: rather have somewhat like a Greg leugainis being that role, 42 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: you know, I mean just just in terms of just 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 2: in terms of wattage and attraction, star factor, all of it. Well, 44 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: I did a diving right you did. 45 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I have bragging rights to say that I 46 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: was Mario Lopez's body double. 47 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: That's something that's a huge thing. 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: So, I mean, the Olympics are, they're here. I just 49 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: want to pick your brain a little bit. Four Olympic 50 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: Games you were participating in. 51 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 3: I qualified for four Olympic Games, but I only participated 52 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 3: in three because we had a boycott, right right. 53 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: So exactly. So I mean just in the course of 54 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: your career there four Olympics happened. So in terms of 55 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: the memories that you have when you think back, like 56 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: how clear are you? Were you able to soak all 57 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: that in at the time, and if you could have 58 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: a favorite moment or a favorite like era of the 59 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: Olympics that you did, could you speak to those. 60 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 3: Well, the only opening ceremonies that I went to was 61 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: my first one Montreal, because like I you know, it's 62 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: like my first Olympics. I mean, you got to do that, right, 63 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 3: But diving is generally is at the end, you know, 64 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: when I was competing, it's at the end of the Olympics. 65 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: So my concern I didn't participate in the opening ceremonies 66 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 3: in eighty four because I knew that I would probably 67 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: go to the opening ceremonies. Get all hyped up, have 68 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 3: an incredible week of workouts, and then the second week 69 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 3: when I had to compete, I probably would have been flat. 70 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: So I was really protective of my energy, you know, 71 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 3: because there were so many expectations that people had of me. 72 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 3: And then eighty eight pretty much the same thing. We 73 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 3: were towards the end of the schedule, and so I 74 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 3: didn't go to the opening ceremonies and then the closing ceremonies. 75 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 3: I got carded to do a drug test and I 76 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: was trying to pee in a cup. I missed the 77 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 3: bus to go to the closing ceremonies because I was 78 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 3: trying to pee in a cup. You know. 79 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: Wow, the little things you got to check off the list. 80 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: And that piano cup, right, how many times do you 81 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: think you've peed in a cup in your life? 82 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 3: Oh my god, Oh my god. You know she may 83 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: need to really really count. Yeah. I mean I've been 84 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 3: drug tested since I was sixteen. I mean that was 85 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 3: my first Olympics. I was sixteen. 86 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: Wow, gosh, I talk about this some idea. This is 87 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 2: this is what I find really remarkable about you, is 88 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: that this idea of like separating whatever accomplishment is in 89 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,119 Speaker 2: those things from the medals and like giving the medals away, 90 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: like talk about giving the medals away, auction them off 91 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: like that. I find that incredible because, yeah, I mean, 92 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 2: don't you want to keep that trophy around in some yeah, 93 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: you know. 94 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 3: Okay, So getting through the eighty eight Olympics after I 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 3: hit my hat on the board, I'm not a fighter, 96 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 3: you know. And so who I thought of was Ryan White. 97 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 3: You know. Ryan White is a young boy who was 98 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: a hemophiliac. He contracted HIV through his clouding factor, and 99 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 3: he was a fighter. He fought for the right for 100 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 3: kids to go to school, you know, kids that were 101 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 3: HIV positive, and so he was a fighter. So he 102 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 3: was my inspiration. And so that's the reason why I 103 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 3: gave that medal to Genie White, because Ryan was my inspiration. 104 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 3: And then that was it's at the Children's Museum in 105 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 3: Indianapolis because they took his room and made it into 106 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,239 Speaker 3: a museum. And then in eighty four when I broke 107 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 3: seven hundred and ten meters platform, it was a dream 108 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 3: come true competition for me because it was like my coach, 109 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 3: Ron O'Brien and I it was just like a dance. 110 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 3: I mean, we were just having fun. Playing, you know, 111 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 3: joking around banter and it was just an incredible experience. 112 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 3: And then I broke seven hundred and so I gave 113 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 3: that medal to Ron because it was just a culmination 114 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 3: of all the work and love and trust that we 115 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 3: had in each other that we we did that together. 116 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 3: You know, I'm a firm believer you don't achieve greatness 117 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 3: on your own, and so somebody is always there, you know, 118 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 3: whether it's a supportive parent or a coach or friend 119 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 3: or somebody. You know, somebody's always in your corner totally. 120 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 3: So yeah, I mean the medals they didn't sell, you know, 121 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 3: because there was a you know, they had to go 122 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 3: for you know, so much. But the hopes was to 123 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: provide funding for Damien House because they outgrew the facility 124 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 3: that they're in and they provide services to the HIV 125 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 3: community in Indianapolis and so they do incredible work. So 126 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 3: you know, they're you know, they need to you know, 127 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 3: they're building out to be able to service more people. 128 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: So yeah, I was trying to help them out, but 129 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 3: that that didn't quite work out. But you know, I 130 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 3: do what I can, you know, to you know, to 131 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: try and help them out. 132 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, but just the concept of that of I guess, 133 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: for lack of a better word, like externalizing your accomplishment, 134 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: which I know which you which we know where you're 135 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: not taking so credit for. But it's still pretty incredible. 136 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, But you know, the metals are you know, it's 137 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: funny because like a lot of people say, oh, put 138 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 3: the metals on, and I don't generally put the metals on, 139 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 3: you know, to get my picture taken, because I want 140 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: to remember, you know, what it was, you know, when 141 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 3: they put it on the first time, you know, when 142 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 3: I was on the podium they put it on, and 143 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 3: that's the memory that I want to have, and so 144 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 3: I try and stay pretty true to that. And also 145 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 3: the metals are just things. 146 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, the memories and the symbol is what it really 147 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: is about. 148 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I mean, and you know, and if they 149 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 3: can give pleasure enjoy to somebody for whatever reason, you know, 150 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 3: Ryan being my inspiration, ron O'Brien being my coach who 151 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 3: was with me by my side through so much to 152 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 3: be able to share that, that brings me joy. 153 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: Absolutely. I mean, just to hear you even speak about 154 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: Ryan White, it just kind of just snaps you into 155 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: the reality that this was such a different world that 156 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: we were living in, I mean cellularly on a basic level, 157 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: like we did not have anywhere near the information, understanding 158 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: or compassion for people that were HIV positive or experiencing 159 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: what it means to go through AIDS at that time. Yeah, 160 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: to hear yourself characterize yourself as not a fighter, I 161 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: just want to go back to that for a second, 162 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: because you said you're not a fighter. I think, sir, 163 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: you are the definition of a fighter and a true 164 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: legend not only in sports, but in awareness. And then 165 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: you know, like even today, you're up and you're out 166 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: to change and improve lives and morale and just you know, 167 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: you're the Olympic spirit SI lives in you. I want 168 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: to know why you don't characterize yourself as a fighter. 169 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: Is it because you think about people at the time 170 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: and you don't want to take that mantle because that's 171 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: for people that really suffered or maybe are no longer 172 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: with us. What is that? 173 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:35,599 Speaker 3: Well, I've always been a performer, you know, because I 174 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 3: started doing dancing acrobatics when I was a year and 175 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: a half and I was performing on stage when I 176 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: was three, and so I've always been a performer. I 177 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 3: feel and This is, you know, my feeling. I will 178 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 3: help somebody to beat me, you know, I will tell 179 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: them how to beat me, because the better they do, 180 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: the better I'm going to do. And it's all about 181 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: each other, you know. And and that's the way that 182 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 3: I see it. You know, we're all, you know, you know, 183 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 3: being our best selves. If you're helping somebody else to 184 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 3: be their best self, then we're elevating each other. Where 185 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 3: it's not a competition, right, I don't. 186 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: I don't. 187 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: I don't see it as a competition. I see it 188 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 3: as really elevating humanity. 189 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: So I wonder does that you say you've always been 190 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: a performer, did you throughout your Olympic career think of 191 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,359 Speaker 1: it as performance and more as more than a competition, 192 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 1: because that's a way I haven't heard an Olympic athlete 193 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: characterize their Olympic performance. You know. 194 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,839 Speaker 3: It's interesting because, like I've talked to quite a few 195 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 3: Olympians and you know, medalists, gold medalists and all that. 196 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 3: And there are some athletes that are performers. Their focus 197 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 3: is on their own performance and that is what spurs 198 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 3: them on. There are other athletes that are pure competitors, right, 199 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 3: Michael Johnson. I was, you know, I was talking with 200 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 3: him and said, yeah, I want the fastest person right 201 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 3: next to me so I can kick there. But you know, 202 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 3: I was like, okay, So that's what drives him, you know. 203 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 3: But for me, I always felt that if I look 204 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 3: at somebody as my competition, then what I'm doing is 205 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: I'm limiting the potential that I potentially have, because chances 206 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 3: are if they miss a dive, then I'm going to 207 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: miss a die. Yeah, because I'm using them as a 208 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 3: benchmark as my competition. And so if they are off 209 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 3: a little bit, then chances are I'll let up, you know, 210 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 3: And I don't want to do that. I want to 211 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: give the absolute best performance that I can give. I mean, 212 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 3: it's like, you know, because my background is in theater, 213 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 3: you know, and that's what you know, the directors are 214 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 3: always telling you every night there's opening night, you know, 215 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 3: because it's near to that audience, right, and. 216 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 2: You're only as good as your let's say, weakest co star. 217 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 3: Well yeah, but and the thing is okay, so people 218 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 3: would say, well, what was your favorite dive? I didn't 219 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 3: have a favorite dive. They all had to be my 220 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 3: favorite dive. So in the same vein, You're only as 221 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 3: great as your weakest dive, your weakest link in the chain, right, 222 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 3: and so you what you want to do is you 223 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 3: want to strengthen that chain. You know that you want 224 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 3: to strengthen that weak link so that you don't have 225 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 3: a weak link. 226 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you saying you don't have a favorite dive. 227 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 1: I was going to ask are all your Olympic achievements 228 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: created equally? But I was thinking about it, and like you, 229 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: coming from theater and being a performer, honestly, I understand 230 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: that eighty eight was a lot of drama because of 231 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: the head, because of you know the moment. Yeah, in 232 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: a way, that has to be your favorite, right, because 233 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: you a performer, you really brought the in eighty eight. 234 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: I mean you had all of the world being on 235 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: the edge of their seat like you were mental streep 236 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: on stage. 237 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: King. You know what, It's so interesting that you brought 238 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 3: up eighty eight and that whole situation, you know, you 239 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 3: you know, looking at the big picture, Yeah it was. 240 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 3: It was pretty incredible. But I went back because when 241 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 3: I was diagnosed six months prior to the Olympic Games, 242 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 3: and I went to Anthony Fauci and he wanted to 243 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 3: treat me very aggressively, so he made AZYT available to me. 244 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 3: So I was on azy T right away, and so 245 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 3: I didn't have anybody to talk to about my medications 246 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 3: and the side effects and all that stuff. I was 247 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 3: literally crawling from my bed in the morning through the bathroom, 248 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 3: pouring myself the hottest bath that I could stand, get 249 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 3: in their soak for twenty minutes before I could touch 250 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 3: my toes and be able to function. Wow, I thought 251 00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 3: I was overtraining. But now looking back, one of the 252 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 3: side effects of the AZT was low testostera. So basically 253 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 3: my body was eating itself up because it didn't have 254 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 3: the hormones to uh, you know, to replenish and rebuild. 255 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 3: And so I watched recently the eighty eight Olympic Games, 256 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: my performance in eighty Olympic Games, and I could see it, 257 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 3: you know, I wasn't jumping as high, I wasn't spinning 258 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 3: as fast, and so yeah, I mean that was it 259 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 3: was pretty drastic, you know, looking at it through a 260 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 3: different lens and with new information, and so yeah, I 261 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 3: mean I was just very very lucky, fortunate, and you know, 262 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 3: and and and in some ways, you know, it was 263 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 3: ignorance is bliss, right. I didn't know. I didn't know 264 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 3: any better, So I was just pushing myself and to be, 265 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 3: you know, the best I could be at that moment 266 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 3: in time. 267 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. 268 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 3: But man, I mean, looking at it now, it's just 269 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: like that was crazy. It was crazy to think that 270 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 3: I went two Olympic gold medals on easy team. Yeah, 271 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: that's insane. 272 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 2: While you were in this brain fog. Yeah, I mean 273 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 2: that kind of makes the achievement of it all the 274 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 2: more remarkable. Yeah, before we let you go, we want 275 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 2: to ask you. You seem like someone who's always looking 276 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: for the next big challenge in life. What is the 277 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: next big thing for Greg? 278 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 3: Gosh? The next big thing for me? Well, I also 279 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 3: trained dogs, So I've got a little hungarian Pumi who's 280 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 3: very talented, and so my hopes for him is to 281 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 3: make world team. Yes, so we're in training for that. 282 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 3: So that's probably the next big thing. And also, you know, family, 283 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: I'm adopted and so both my parents who raised me 284 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 3: are no longer on this plane. But I my biological father, 285 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 3: you know, I've struck up a relationship with that, and 286 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 3: so learning family, re learning what family means to me. 287 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: It's it's really really fascinating. You know, got a brother 288 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: and two sisters in Hawaii, and so yeah, more discovery 289 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: about family beautiful. 290 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: That's incredible. It's just such an honor to talk to 291 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: you for even a short amount of time. We could 292 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: do it for four more hours, but I know you 293 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: got some lucky students to go talk to. So thank 294 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: you so much. 295 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 2: Greg. 296 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: I mean, if we might say, you're definitely a fighter, 297 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: and I mean just to see you out there still 298 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: inspiring is inspiring in its own right. So thank you 299 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: so much for giving us your time today. 300 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 3: Hopefully we can connect and face to face. 301 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: I hope. 302 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, where are you guys? 303 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 3: Where are you? 304 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: So? I'm in Los Angeles? Boone famously is in New York. 305 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: I'm in New York. But yes, but oh okay we 306 00:16:58,280 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 2: go back and forth. 307 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 3: Okay, well yeah we'll connect. We'll connect, definitely. 308 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 2: Must absolutely sure. 309 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for my pleasure. 310 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 2: Well, Matt, that was just delightful. What a real honor 311 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 2: to talk to him, even through zoom. It kind of 312 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 2: just exudes. It comes through like technology is nothing. It's 313 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 2: like it just transcends. 314 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: All it really, I mean, the top about the star quality, 315 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean, it's really it's and it also seems like 316 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: we're going to be hanging out with him at some point, 317 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: so I just know he jams out in person. 318 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely what an incredible human being, someone who I think 319 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 2: probably has like the right mindset about the Olympic Games 320 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,239 Speaker 2: throughout the entire like sort of span of it, like 321 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 2: leading up to his games, his three Olympics, doing the 322 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 2: actual thing, and then in the sort of like post 323 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 2: Olympics life that a lot of these in Olympians lead. 324 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 2: I feel like he's set such a wonderful example. 325 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I mean, and he has accomplished so much since 326 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: then and lived so much life since then. There was 327 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: a few things I wanted to talk to him about 328 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 1: what I didn't get to, such as having an iconic 329 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: Greek last name, but not being Greek yourself, because Louganis 330 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: that's not just a Greek last name, that is a 331 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: very very Greek last name and adopted. So I mean, 332 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: just the amount of people who probably come up to 333 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: him and say ya sas he probably it's probably a 334 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: lot of emotional overwhelmed sure, sure. 335 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: And worst of all, ol of Tone's skin and so 336 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 2: of course people just like even visually just kind of 337 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 2: identify that with him. 338 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: You couldn't have told me he was in Greek, right, 339 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: but now I'm telling you he's not. 340 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 2: He's not. And you know, the thing that inspired him 341 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 2: to put his metals up for auction was Marie Condo, 342 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 2: So another w for Marie kind of influencing the original influencer, 343 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 2: not THEA but you know what I mean. 344 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: I mean talking about OG influencers. You know, famous COVID 345 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: influencer Fauci. Anthony Fauci has been coming into the mix 346 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: in the late eighties. 347 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 2: I mean, one of the first people to get azet. 348 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: The fact that he was literally suffering through those eighty 349 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 2: eight games and he still wins gold pretty incredible. 350 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: And to not call himself a fighter or not identify 351 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: as one that I'll tell you what that really is 352 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: right there, that's true humility. You can tell he really 353 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: feels in service not only to the people watching, but 354 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 1: to the people alongside him. And that was really inspiring 355 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: to to hear him talk about how it's only worth 356 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,479 Speaker 1: winning if you're going up against the best, which I've 357 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: always agreed with. But you know it's you watch the 358 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: traders now and it's like they want to knock the 359 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: good people out so they can get to the end. 360 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: And that's not Olympics, no, correct. 361 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 2: Luganis would be terrible on the traders. 362 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 1: He would not be good at the traders at all. 363 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: He'd be a terrible trader. He's too kind, he's too sweet, 364 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 1: and we just saw that firsthand. You guys, the Olympics 365 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 1: are underway. You can listen to our episodes which are 366 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: flying freely coming at you. Two guys, five rings us 367 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: the podcast. We thank you so much for listening as always, isn't. 368 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 2: That right, bo, I'm so thankful and thank you for 369 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 2: speaking on my behalf and thank god it was the truth. 370 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 2: Follow the show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, 371 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 2: or your favorite podcast platform, and watch and listen to 372 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 2: every moment of the twenty twenty four Parasalympic Games July 373 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: twenty sixth through August eleventh on NBC and Peacock and 374 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 2: for the first time ever, on the iHeartRadio app.