IOC Will Provide Gary Hall Jr. with Replacement Medals for Those Lost in L.A. Wildfires
As Gary Hall Jr. ran through his home last week before evacuating the Pacific Palisades residence due to the Los Angeles wildfires that have devastated Southern California, the three-time Olympian focused on grabbing a handful of items. He picked up his dog, the insulin to treat his diabetes, a painting of his grandfather and a religious artifact given to him by his daughter.
Left behind were the 10 Olympic medals won by Hall between the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Games.
“I was getting pelted by embers on that first run,” Hall told the Los Angeles Times. “So I grabbed my dog and some dog food and that was it. Could I have stayed 30 seconds longer and maybe got the medals? I wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
One of the greatest swimmers and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Hall Jr. will always have the memories of his Olympic accomplishments. And in the future, Hall Jr. will also have replicas of the 10 medals he earned while representing the United States on the biggest stage in his sport.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach took to social media over the weekend and noted that the IOC will provide Hall Jr. with copies of the medals he won in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens. Among the medals will be golds to reflect the back-to-back titles he claimed in the 50-meter freestyle in 2000 and 2004.
Donations to support Hall Jr. can be made at the link below, while donations to the thousands affected by the wildfires can be made to the American Red Cross.
Donate to the American Red Cross