Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story

Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story
Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story
Directed by	Steven Hilliard Stern
Written by	Greg Louganis (book); Eric Marcus (book); Alan Hines (written by)
Produced by	Mark Bacino (producer); Allen S. Epstein (executive producer); Jim Green (executive producer); Alan Hines (co-producer); Andrew McLean (supervising producer)
Starring	Mario Lopez; Michael Murphy
Cinematography	Michael Slovis
Edited by	Peter Svab
Music by	Richard Bellis
Release date	March 19, 1997
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story is a 1997 television film about diver Greg Louganis based on the 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.

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

Mario López as Greg Louganis
Michael Murphy as Pete Louganis
Rosemary Dunsmore as Frances Louganis
Jeffrey Meek as Tom Barrett
Megan Leitch as Megan Neyer
Jonathan Scarfe as Keith
Fulvio Cecere as John Anders
Patrick David as Young Greg Louganis
Rafael Rojas III as Greg (age 9)
Bruce Weitz as Ron O'Brien
Gregor Trpin as Scott Cranham
Greg Louganis as himself

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"

External links