Summaries

Breaking the Surface is about the tough times Greg Louganis had on his way to becoming one of the world's top Olympic divers. Some topics discussed were Greg's childhood problems, his homosexuality, and him contracting the HIV virus.

Breaking the Surface is about the tough times Greg Louganis had on his way to becoming one of the world's top Olympic divers. Some topics discussed were Greg's childhood problems, his homosexuality, and him contracting the HIV virus.—Eli Boorstein <eli@hotmail.com>

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.—Anonymous

Details

Keywords
  • 1980s
  • aquatic sport
  • year 1984
  • straight actor gay character
  • swim brief
Genres
  • Drama
  • Biography
  • Sport
Release date Mar 18, 1997
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) TV-PG
Countries of origin United States Canada
Language English
Filming locations Los Angeles, California, USA
Production companies World International Network (WIN) Green/Epstein Productions USA Network Pictures

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 35m
Color Color
Sound mix Stereo
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

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