10th January 2025 – (Los Angeles) Gary Hall Jr., the celebrated Olympic swimmer, has tragically lost his home and all ten of his Olympic medals in the recent wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles. The fire, which began on 7th January, has left thousands of residents, including Hall Jr., grappling with the aftermath of destruction.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Hall Jr. recounted the horrifying experience of escaping the flames that engulfed his rented house in Pacific Palisades. “It was worse than any apocalypse movie you’ve ever seen, a thousand times more chaotic. We were completely surrounded by flames,” he stated, highlighting the widespread devastation described as the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, affecting over 30,000 people.
As he made a frantic escape, Hall Jr. recalled, “The embers were raining down on me as I jumped into my car. I managed to grab my dog and just a couple of personal items. It was every person for themselves.”
The 50-year-old swimmer, who boasts five gold, three silver, and two bronze medals from his Olympic appearances in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), and Athens (2004), lamented the loss of his medals. “I did think about the medals. I did not have time to get them. Yeah, everything burned. It’s something I can live without. It’s just stuff. It will take hard work to start over. What can you do?” he reflected.
In light of his loss, a friend has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support Hall Jr., who is currently staying with family as he considers his next steps. As of Thursday afternoon, over $32,000 has been raised towards a $50,000 target.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has expressed its intention to reach out to Hall Jr. to provide assistance, acknowledging the impact of the wildfires on their athlete community.
During a press conference on 9th January, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that the death toll from the fires remains uncertain. He noted, “This continues to be a fluid and evolving crisis, and the numbers that we release throughout this incident are going to fluctuate. Anything we say is subject to change.”
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