Icarus Still Flies

On July 27, 1976, Greg Louganis mounted a platform beneath the diving tower in Montreal, where an Olympic official hung a silver medal around his neck. Slightly higher stood Klaus Dibiasi of Italy, the gold-medal winner. Klaus Dibiasi, perhaps the greatest platform diver ever, leaned down and said: “In four years, you’ll be up here for the gold medal”. Arnold Hano, “Greg Louganis: DIVING SENSATION AT 16”, Boy’s Life, August 1977, p. 28 In 1976 Klaus Dibiasi — nicknamed the “Blonde Angel” as well as “The Chairman” of the diving board — was already a legend and, due to injuries and age, he should have probably retired himself. Instead, he choose to ignore the objectivity of time and participate in the Olympic Games regardless of what would have been the result. I will never forget what he accomplished in Montreal: his “swan song” was perfection. Then he lived the life of a former athlete. He coached the Italian diving team, beared the flag of Italy at opening ceremonies of major events, and became member of the LEN as well as of the FINA. Time passes by, and nothing ever remains the same. Or maybe not. In 2014, I read a non-sporting news about him which touched me deeply: the Anzio Hospital announced that Klaus Dibiasi, the diving legend, “had generously donated his femoral head just to help other sufferers”. The Blonde Angel flies again!