Olympic great Gary Hall JR lost a medal from LA Wildfires, replaced by the IOC
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Gary Hall Jr. Olympic medal has been destroyed Los Angeles fire. On Monday, he was awarded 10 replica medals at IOC headquarters, replacing what he lost.
Like most hall items, Original medal It was burned at my home in Pallisard, Pacific Ocean four months ago.
“I do a better job of caring for these,” Hall said jokingly.
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American swimmer Gary Hall Jr. holds the original medal from Atlanta in 1996. This melted in a Los Angeles wildfire that destroyed his home while holding the replica medal that was given to him in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday, May 5, 2025. (via Denis Balibose/Keystone/Reuters Pool
The 50-year-old received a new set of five gold medals, three silver and two bronze medals, winning a swim in the United States.
IOC Chairman Thomas Bach said giving Hall Jr. 10 medals on the same day would be a “unique ceremony.”
“I don’t think it’s ever happened, so I hope it never happens again,” Bach told Hall. “We also want to give you a moment of relief and joy to help you in further processes to overcome what you had to go through in this tragedy.”
Hall brought gold to the ceremony.
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The left US swimmer Anthony Irvin and center Gary Hall Jr. are tying gold in the men’s 50m freestyle, but are standing with Dutch swimmer Peter Vanden Hogenband, who won a bronze medal during the Summer Olympics in Sydney on September 22, 2000. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File)
Hall won gold in 1996 Atlanta The Olympics of the 4x100m Freestyle relay and 4x100m Medley relay brought home a 100m Freestyle in the same game as two silver medals in the 50m Freestyle.
The Phoenix, Arizona native won two more gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 50m freestyle and the 4x100m medley relay, and silver and bronze medals in Australia.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Hall Junior won his final two medals. A 50m freestyle gold medal and a 4x100m freestyle relay bronze medal.
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American swimmer Gary Hall Jr. holds a medal melted during a wildfire while wearing the replica Olympic medal presented to him at a ceremony held at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday, May 5, 2025. (via Denis Balibose/Keystone/Reuters Pool
“I’m a very lucky guy because I have friends and family,” Hall said. “The support I have provided by the athletic community has supported me throughout the darkest nights.”
“That’s what this (Olympic) family is about. It’s rivals and friends. I’m very grateful to all of them. I can’t thank them enough for the Olympic movement to support them through these extremely difficult times.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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