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IMDbPro

Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story

  • TV Movie
  • 19971997
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
694
YOUR RATING
Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Sport
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 homose... Read allBreaking 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.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
694
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steven Hilliard Stern
  • Writers
    • Greg Louganis(book "Breaking the Surface")
    • Eric Marcus(book "Breaking the Surface")
    • Alan Hines
  • Stars
    • Mario Lopez
    • Michael Murphy
    • Jeffrey Meek
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Hilliard Stern
  • Writers
    • Greg Louganis(book "Breaking the Surface")
    • Eric Marcus(book "Breaking the Surface")
    • Alan Hines
  • Stars
    • Mario Lopez
    • Michael Murphy
    • Jeffrey Meek
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos16

    Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Greg Louganis in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Patrick David in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)
    Mario Lopez in Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mario Lopez
    Mario Lopez
    • Greg Louganisas Greg Louganis
    • (as Mario López)
    Michael Murphy
    Michael Murphy
    • Pete Louganisas Pete Louganis
    Jeffrey Meek
    Jeffrey Meek
    • Tom Barrettas Tom Barrett
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    • Frances Louganisas Frances Louganis
    Aki Aleong
    Aki Aleong
    • Dr. Sammy Leeas Dr. Sammy Lee
    Bruce Weitz
    Bruce Weitz
    • Ron O'Brienas Ron O'Brien
    Patrick David
    Patrick David
    • Young Greg Louganisas Young Greg Louganis
    Megan Leitch
    Megan Leitch
    • Meganas Megan
    Jonathan Scarfe
    Jonathan Scarfe
    • Keithas Keith
    Rafael Rojas III
    • Greg - Age 9as Greg - Age 9
    Fulvio Cecere
    Fulvio Cecere
    • John Andersas John Anders
    Gabrielle Miller
    Gabrielle Miller
    • Despinaas Despina
    Kristina Krapic
    • Despina - Age 11as Despina - Age 11
    Gregor Trpin
    • Scott Cranhamas Scott Cranham
    Andrew Francis
    Andrew Francis
    • Bully Boy #1as Bully Boy #1
    Nathan Evans
    • Bully Boy #2as Bully Boy #2
    Noah Dennis
    • Bully Boy #3as Bully Boy #3
    David James Lewis
    David James Lewis
    • Officer #1as Officer #1
    • (as David Lewis)
    • Director
      • Steven Hilliard Stern
    • Writers
      • Greg Louganis(book "Breaking the Surface")
      • Eric Marcus(book "Breaking the Surface")
      • Alan Hines
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actual footage of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea are used in the film. Actual footage of Greg Louganis diving at the Olympiads and audience reaction is also used in the film.
    • Goofs
      In 1976 when Greg Louganis won the silver medal and his friend said that she had heard that Greg was going to be on the Partridge Family The Partridge Family had been off of TV since August 24, 1974,
    • Quotes

      Frances Louganis: [to Greg about his dad] He was born an angry old man.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Wedding Daze (2006)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    Fascinating true-life story deserved better
    BREAKING THE SURFACE: THE GREG LOUGANIS STORY (1996)

    Aspect ratio: 1.33:1

    Sound format: Stereo

    Despite acting as co-consultant, Olympic diver Greg Louganis is short-changed by Steven Hilliard Stern's conveyor belt TV movie, based on the sportsman's bestselling autobiography. The film tells a remarkable tale, encompassing everything from Louganis' struggle with his sexuality and his troubled family life, his long-term relationship with an abusive lover/manager, his Olympic triumphs, and ultimately his HIV positive status. In the title role, Mario Lopez is engaging and sympathetic, and he certainly *looks* spectacular, but the entire cast (veterans and newcomers alike) simply go through the motions - there's no passion. In fact, the characters are mere ciphers and the sentimentality is contrived and unconvincing. And do we really need another cringe-making TV movie which is too cowardly to show gay characters demonstrating even the most basic affection for one another? Maybe a cable production would have handled the story with a level of honest commitment that's sadly absent here. That said, the film is competent and watchable, if only because Louganis' story is *so* incredible, but viewers looking for the unvarnished truth might be better off reading the book instead.
    helpful•10
    4
    • Libretio
    • Jan 26, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 19, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rompiendo la superficie: la historia de Greg Louganis
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Green/Epstein Productions
      • USA Network Pictures
      • World International Network (WIN)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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