Retired American Olympic diver Greg Louganis said he had a hard enough time trying to compete for the United States during international competitions while hiding his sexual orientation.
On Thursday he said Russia's new anti-gay laws would be "heartbreaking and heinous" against gay Russian athletes.
The 53-year-old Louganis, who is among the inaugural class to be inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, engaged in a question-and-answer interview with USA Today, and responded to a question about Russia's new policy toward homosexuals.
Several media outlets reported earlier Thursday that Russia intends to enforce a law - which President Vladimir Putin signed in late June - cracking down on gay-rights activism during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
According to The Associated Press, the law will impose fines on individuals accused of spreading "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors. The law also would pertain to Russian citizens who express these views online or in the news media and propose even harsher penalties. Gay pride rallies also would be against the law.
USA Today asked Louganis about what he thought life would be like for a gay athlete living in a country outlawing gay activism.
"I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for a gay athlete in Russia," he told the news entity." It was hard enough to compete closeted representing the United States, a country that is considerably evolved on LGBT rights. It is unfathomable to consider what it's like for the Russian athlete - knowing that if you were to come out you could lose everything you've worked your entire life to achieve and then on top of that to be considered a criminal. It is both heartbreaking and heinous."
Asked what he would say to Putin if he had a chance to speak to the Russian President, Louganis said, ""If you had a family member who was gay would you put them in jail? Anti-LGBT laws affect people who are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters and our neighbors. If you keep this in your heart and lead, then hopefully the community in Russia will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve."
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