Hero waiting to be unchained

In Mahabharata, there is a famous story of Dronacharya putting the Pandavas and Kauravas through a test by placing a wooden bird on a tree and asking each of his wards to shoot the eye of the bird. But, before shooting the arrow, everyone was asked what they could see. Only Arjun said he could see the eye of the bird and nothing else.

Recently, when I sat across the table talking to multiple Olympic gold-winning diver Greg Louganis, I couldn't help remember that story. "I call it meditation in motion. In Seoul, when I walked on the board it was me, the board and water. Nothing else mattered. At times, after completing the dive, I have thought why is everybody clapping, for I didn't even remember the seconds after the takeoff," said Greg, almost smiling.

Visiting Kolkata as the international event ambassador of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K event, Louganis said that he wanted to convey to next generation sportspersons that adversities can make you more focussed and help you achieve better. Winner of five Olympic medals – four golds and a silver – Louganis revealed that after being diagnosed with HIV, he became even more focused about diving and that helped him win two golds at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

"In some ways, it was a blessing (being diagnosed as HIV positive) for me as I got this disease when I was working towards the goal of making it to the Olympic team. So, rather than sitting in my room and stirring and ruminating over my situation of living with HIV, I focused on my diving which was something positive, where I could pour all my focus and energy. The pool became my sanctuary where HIV did not exist," he said.

Rated as the most successful men's platform and spring-board diver in the history of the sport, Louganis added: "My focus was not glory. I just wanted to be the best that I could possibly be. It really put things in perspective for me".

"When you get to the pinnacle of the sport, or anything, it takes your focus and energy. I thought I was able to put my energy into something positive rather than dwell on my situation and feel sorry for myself," he said.

He had many commitments and, hence, the discussions were punctuated with photo sessions and obliging autograph hunters.

"I keep telling those who I mentor that if you get success, then never get too deep into it. When you have an incredible performance, it is like a piece of art. It is not going to be reproduced. I encourage them to be open and never start judging a situation. It is not about being perfect because often perfection leads to procrastination. It is not going to be the perfect dive every time that is going to win an Olympic medal. So, the idea is to make the most of even a not-so-good dive and remain in the mix. It helps sustain you," Louganis said. As he kept talking, one notices the tattoos on his left arm, the several metal wristlets and bands jingling jangling as he looked like a virtual rockstar. Louganis, who arrived in the city at 2 am on Thursday morning, said the one thing that had struck him about the city was that there were "a lot of cars. The riot of colours, the warmth of the people and the taste of macher jhol also impressed me."

He gleefully posed on the bonnet of a yellow taxi in a peach-coloured vest later in the day, as the light breeze played with his greys. It was almost sad to see people flocking the majestic Victoria Memorial oblivious to another legend filling up the same air they are breathing.

An adopted child to Frances and Peter Louganis, Greg was only eight-months-old when the couple brought him home. Naturally, he found a lot of himself in teenage diver Jordan Windle, of Cambodian origin adopted by American parents, "He is a good kid. He has a level head on his shoulders. I hope to see some good things from him. He is very much like me"

Talking about other American divers who he thought made a difference, he said: "David Boudia and Laura Wilkinson, they get it. They understand that it is okay to let go and do what they need to do."

An accomplished theatre actor, Greg revealed with a twinkle in his eyes that he is currently writing a musical. "Titled Hero, I am double casting myself. Judy Norton Taylor is writing the script. Patrick Alan Casey is doing the music. We have had some critique in industrial readings and we are working on it."

"I was into dancing and gymnastics from an early age. When I was eight-years-old, we got a swimming pool in our home and I started diving while doing some of the routines I had learnt in gymnastics. My mom got nervous that I would hurt myself and put me in a diving school," Louganis said.

At 12, he developed a knee problem for which he had to bid goodbye to dancing, aerobics and gymnastics. But his doctors advised him to continue diving because he had asthma and they thought the sport would improve his lung function. Four years later, Louganis won a silver at the Montreal Olympics as a 16-year-old. The rest, as they say, is history.

Talking about the famous injury before his gold-winning feat at Los Angles, Louganis said his coach had reminded him that he had achieved enough in his career and should not push himself after the injury in his last Olympics. "But I did not for a second consider quitting," he said.

Incidentally, the hero of Louganis's favourite fiction series, Harry Potter, also carries a scar on his forehead.

We veered on to the topic of sexuality and his fight for the LGBT movement, he said "I am so happy to hear what has happened in India. All I tell them is to respect their own self for what they are."