US swimmer Gary Hall Jr. says he lost everything in Palisades wildfire – including 10 Olympic medals
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Former US Olympian Gary Hall Jr., who won 10 Olympic medals throughout his illustrious swimming career, has revealed that he believes he has lost all of his medals in the recent Palisades wildfire in California. Hall, a decorated swimmer known for his speed and charisma, opened up about the devastating event in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, describing it as worse than any apocalypse movie he had ever seen.
Hall was at home when he first noticed the smoke creeping over the back of his house. Within moments, flames erupted, causing houses to explode, and he realized the wildfire was rapidly approaching. Hall recalled the chaotic scene as he spoke to his daughter on the phone. “It was worse than any apocalypse movie you’ve ever seen and 1,000 times worse,” he said. “I saw the flames erupt and houses start popping. There were explosions. I didn’t have a lot of time.”
As the fire spread, Hall was forced to make a quick decision. “Sunset Boulevard was a complete logjam,” he described. “People abandoned cars and were running for their lives. Police were telling them to do that. My girlfriend was trapped in her car around smoke.” The situation was increasingly dire, and Hall found himself surrounded by flames, with embers raining down as he jumped into his car.
Hall, who had only a few moments to escape, grabbed his dog, Puddles, along with essential items like his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious wooden piece his daughter, Gigi, had given him. “It’s just every person for themselves,” he said, reflecting on the sheer chaos of the moment. “It’s tough. It’s a big loss … and everything I own.”
Known for his dominant performances in the pool, Hall represented the United States in three Olympic Games: 1996, 2000, and 2004. He secured 10 Olympic medals, including five golds, and earned additional honors with six world championship medals, three of which were gold. Hall’s success in the sport was all the more impressive considering he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1999, adding another challenge to his already demanding career.
In a deeply personal and emotional update, a GoFundMe page has been set up for Hall, detailing the losses he endured in the fire. The page reads: “Gary Jr. lost his home and his livelihood in the devastating Palisades Fire on January 7th.” It goes on to describe Hall’s frantic escape from the blaze, during which he had to leave behind irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and memories. Hall also most likely lost his collection of 10 Olympic medals, although the GoFundMe emphasizes that nothing can take away the spirit that led him to win those awards.
At 50, Hall told the Sydney Morning Herald that while he thought about the medals, there was simply no time to save them. “Everyone wants to know, did the medals burn? Yeah, everything burnt,” he explained. “It’s something I can live without. I guess everything is just stuff. It’ll take some hard work to start over. What can you do?”
The former Olympian further reflected on the emotional toll of the loss, acknowledging the difficult process ahead. “It’ll be a range of emotions, particularly when it’s time to go back to where the house stood,” he said. “I’ll shift through the ash and see if the medals melted together. Will I be able to find anything worth saving? Probably not. I don’t know.”
Despite the tragic loss of so many cherished items, including his Olympic legacy, Hall emphasized that there was no time to capture photos or videos of the events as they unfolded. “There’s no time to take photos or videos when running for your life,” he said, underscoring the terrifying urgency of the moment.
Gary Hall Jr.’s story is a reminder of the unpredictability and devastation of natural disasters, and while his medals may be gone, his strength, spirit, and resilience remain. As Hall looks ahead to rebuilding his life, the support from the community, along with his indomitable will, will undoubtedly guide him through this incredibly difficult time.
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