San Diego, CA – Clover Press, LLC has announced plans to develop a biographical graphic novel  about famed Olympic champion diver and social & LGBTQ activist, Greg Louganis.

The creative team for A Champion’s Story is being finalized; Mr. Louganis will be involved in all  stages of the book’s continued development and creation. A Champion’s Story is set for print  and digital release by Clover Press in Winter, 2022.

The graphic novel will tell Louganis’ extraordinary life story, from his childhood and early diving  career to achieving Olympic greatness and facing many challenges and triumphs in his personal  life.

“I’m so excited to bring my story to the graphic novel audience. The team at Clover Press, with  such broad experience and success, are the perfect partners. As it was with my diving, I strive to  achieve the very best; I know that this collaboration will empower me to do just that and am  already enjoying this journey!”

A Champion’s Story will be helmed by Clover Press’ Hank Kanalz and Matt Ruzicka. Ruzicka, a  former executive at IDW Publishing, along with IDW Publishing co-founders, Ted Adams, and  Robbie Robbins, each played a key role in bringing to life the bestselling graphic novel  biographies of George Takei, “They Called Us Enemy,” and “March,” about civil rights leader and  U.S. congressman, John Lewis.

“We are thrilled to announce A Champion’s Story,” says Hank Kanalz, Publisher of Clover Press.  “The life of Greg Louganis is one of passionate dedication, vision, redemption and reinvention.  He has faced and overcome many personal, athletic, and social challenges to become an icon  and inspiration to millions of people.”

The Louganis deal with Clover Press was handled by his manager, Greg H. Sims, at Arya Artist  Management, and attorney Irwin Tenenbaum of Loeb & Loeb.

A Champion’s Story fits the desire of Clover Press to create transcendent titles about  extraordinary individuals doing extraordinary things to inspire and improve the lives of people  around the world. The story is very personal to Matt Ruzicka, President of Clover Press, as he  explains, “My father, Chuck Ruzicka, was Greg’s first diving coach. He saw the makings of a  champion at its infancy. My father followed Greg’s career closely throughout his life and in my  household, he embodied the definition of ‘Champion.’ He was the athlete one had to measure up to.”

Greg Louganis was raised by his adoptive parents, Frances and Peter Louganis. At the age of 9,  he began diving lessons after the family built a swimming pool. He started training with Chuck  Ruzicka, his first diving coach. He went on to catch the attention of Dr. Sammy Lee and coach

Ron O’Brien and trained for the Olympics, where he won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988  Summer Olympics.

But his story doesn’t stop there. Louganis went on to experience many personal and career  highs and lows. A Champion’s Story recounts them in a compelling graphic novel format, including his life as an adopted bi-racial child in Southern California, his reconnection with his  biological family, and his health challenges. Louganis came out publicly as HIV-positive in 1995  and has been a prominent LGBTQ activist. He also has worked frequently with the Human  Rights Campaign to defend the civil liberties of the LGBT community and people diagnosed with  HIV/AIDS.

About Clover Press: 

Located in San Diego, California, Clover Press is a publishing company focused on graphic  novels, art books, and prose books. Founded by former IDW executives Ted Adams and Robbie  Robbins and joined by former IDW CFO Matt Ruzicka and former DC Senior Vice President Hank  Kanalz, the company is focused on high-end format publications with progressive, eclectic,  boutique content.

Follow Clover Press Online: 

Clover Press Twitter: twitter.com/clover_press 

Clover Press Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clover_press/ 

Clover Press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloverPressUs/ 

Clover Press Website: https://cloverpress.us/

Get in touch with Clover Press: https://cloverpress.us/pages/contact 

About The Author Varun Gupta

Varun Gupta is a BI Engineer that works in the entertainment industry. Throughout his entire life, Varun has had an immense love of animation and comics. An obsessive manga collector, he spends his free time attempting to read through his massive backlog of series, hoping to one day finish them all. Will he succeed in his perilous quest? Probably not, but at least he’s having fun doing it!

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