Greg Louganisis splitting from husband Johnny Chaillot after nearly eight years of marriage.
The Olympic diver, 61, announced thenews of his divorceon Instagram over the weekend, writing that he and Chaillot “are respectfully and mutually ending our marriage.”
“Marriage among all couples is more often than not challenging, and, particularly during #pridemonth, it’s important that we say how grateful we were to be among the first gay couples to have the privilege to marry legally, and face these challenges so many do,” he wrote in a statement.
“It’s something not so long ago that many of us were certain would never happen. And so, we make this announcement with that in mind, and to ask for the respect and privacy of anyone heading down this new road we must embrace,” he continued. “Thanks to everyone who has supported and nurtured us all of these years.”
Louganis and Chaillotwere marriedin an intimate ceremony in Malibu, California, on Oct. 12, 2013. They began dating in 2012 after meeting on the online dating site Match.com andbecame engagedalmost exactly a year later on April 8.
“It was amazing because I have so many people from all facets of my life here tonight and they are all here and celebrating it is all wonderful,” Louganis told PEOPLE of their wedding, at the time. “I already feel different. The ceremony was so reflective and representative of who we are.”
Greg Louganis, Johnny Chaillot.Don Arnold/WireImage
Louganis became one of the first high-profile athletes to come out as gay in 1994, six years after being diagnosed with HIV. In the early 1990s, he nearly died from a fungal infection.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
source: people.com
