Gay Olympian earns spot on Wheaties box

by Austin Stallings
Journalism Intern

Four-time Olympic gold medalist and LGBT advocate, Greg Louganis, has finally earned a spot on the coveted Wheaties cereal box after being denied during the peak of his career. Louganis joins swimmer Janet Evans and hurdler Edwin Moses; the three athletes will be featured as part of Wheaties' Legends series.

Many people believe General Mills’ change of heart came in light of a petition of over 41,000 plus signatures submitted to the company’s Minneapolis headquarters.

Louganis was featured in the HBO documentary Back on Board: Greg Louganis. The documentary details his athletic career, his LGBT advocacy, and his HIV diagnosis at the height of his career, as well as his historic dominance in the world of competitive diving.  

According to The New York Times, Louganis has said that homophobia was most likely the reason Wheaties didn't use his image following the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. But at this point in his life, he can appreciate this success.

"This means so much more than it would have back then. Getting it now means people will see me as a whole person—a flawed person who is gay, HIV-positive, with all the other things I’ve been through.”

The new Wheaties boxes will be on the shelves next month.

The Gayly 04/06/16 @ 12:56 p.m. CDT