Olympic Swimmer Gary Hall Jr. Loses Home and 10 Medals in California Wildfire
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Gary Hall Jr., a celebrated U.S. Olympic swimmer, has tragically lost his home and 10 Olympic medals in the devastating Palisades wildfire in California. Hall, who is 50 years old, described the terrifying experience of evacuating his rented home in Pacific Palisades. The fire spread rapidly, forcing him to leave behind the majority of his possessions, including his prized Olympic medals.
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Hall had only a few moments to gather essentials before fleeing. He managed to save his dog, a pair of shoes, a pair of underwear, and a few personal items, including a photo of his grandfather and a wooden sculpture gifted by his daughter. The scene was apocalyptic, with burning embers raining down on him as he made his escape. He noted that the fire moved quickly, engulfing homes and businesses in its path, and the experience was unlike anything he had ever witnessed in any movie depicting apocalyptic scenarios.
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Hall, a five-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion, had won a total of 10 Olympic medals throughout his career, including five golds. He had also been inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. The wildfire has forced nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate, and while five deaths have been reported, the total death toll remains uncertain.
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Currently, Hall is staying with his sister in Encinitas, California, and his sister has started a GoFundMe campaign to support him during this challenging time.
