Louganis mentors Olympic hopefuls

AUSTIN (KXAN) - 4-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis is still an icon in the diving world.  Now, at 50 years old, he's mentoring a younger generation of Olympic hopefuls.

Louganis was at UT's Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center on Wednesday afternoon speaking about his career and working on technique with the Longhorn divers.

Drew Livingston, 21, and Troy Dumais, 31, are two aiming for the London Olympics in 2012.  They will compete at the FINA Swimming and Diving World Championships in Shanghai starting July 16.

Dumais competed in the 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), and 2008 (Beijing) Olympic games.  He remembers Louganis winning gold in the 3-meter springboard and 10m platform events in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul).

"I might be a finely-tuned car, but what he could do," said Dumais.  "He was a more enthrilling and horsepower filled car.  He could push it to the limits, that I have not quite gotten there.  So, him being around, I'm basically stepping into a whole other relm."

"You know, if you're going to be planning on a higher degree of difficulty for the 2012 Olympics, this is the year do it," said Louganis.  "This is the year to try those dives out, and see how they go in competition.  Practice them in a high stress situation.  It is a key year."

Louganis also won five world championships in 1978, 1982 (2), 1986 (2).  Former UT diver Laura Wilkinson is the last American on the Olympic podium, winning gold in 2000 (Sydney) for the 10m platform event.