Greg Louganis to Receive the Clint Hockenberry Award

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel is proud to announce that four-time Olympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis will receive the 2026 Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award for his bravery and resilience in using his voice and visibility to combat the stigma, isolation, and hostility faced by people living with HIV. The award will be presented at our 43rd Annual Reception on October 22.

Named for ALRP’s first Executive Director, who led the organization from 1986 until his death from AIDS in 1992, the Hockenberry Award is given each year to an individual whose work reflects a lifetime of service to the HIV/AIDS community.

Greg Louganis

Widely considered the greatest diver in history, Greg Louganis has redefined courage, grace, and excellence both in and out of the pool. With a total of five Olympic medals, five World Championship titles, six Pan American titles, and 47 national titles—the most in U.S. diving history—his records remain unbroken. Equally exemplary is Greg’s decades-long advocacy on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1995, Greg became the first prominent gay athlete to publicly announce that he was HIV positive, using his global platform as an Olympic champion to challenge public stigma around the disease and speaking openly about living with HIV since 1988 to prove the diagnosis was not a death sentence. His New York Times bestselling autobiography Breaking the Surface inspired millions with its honesty and courage. Over the 30+ years since, he has continued to fight against discrimination faced by people living with HIV, to promote education and awareness, and to transform the public’s perception of the virus.

In addition to HIV/AIDS awareness, Greg is a champion of other causes close to his heart including LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, adoption and foster care, and animal welfare. His life stands as a powerful testament to resilience, authenticity, and the pursuit of excellence.

Join us on October 22 as we honor Greg!