Gary Hall Jr. Loses Home and Olympic Medals in Devastating LA Wildfire
Former US Olympian Gary Hall Jr. has opened up about the heartbreaking loss he suffered during the Palisades wildfire that swept through the area on January 7th, destroying his home and his irreplaceable Olympic medals.
Hall, who earned 10 Olympic medals, including five golds, and six World Championship medals, shared the emotional details of the fire’s destruction in an interview. He described the moment when he saw the wildfire rapidly approaching his home, realizing he had only minutes to escape.
“I thought I had more time,” Hall told CNN. “When I saw the fire racing down the hill, I knew I had to leave. I quickly loaded a painting and one other item into the back of my SUV. By the time I went back for more, the embers were falling from the sky.”
Despite his best efforts to save his Olympic medals, which were stored just 70 feet away in a closet in his bedroom, Hall said the speed of the fire left him with no time to retrieve them. “Leaving them behind wasn’t easy,” he admitted. “I spent a lifetime earning them, and while the memories remain, the medals are gone.”
In the chaos of the fire, Hall drove to Palisades Village, arriving just ahead of the blaze. He witnessed the panic and mayhem that unfolded as the fire neared, with parents desperately trying to reach their children in schools still in session. “What had been a peaceful village turned into utter chaos,” he recalled.
The devastating loss has not only affected Hall’s property but has also taken away the tangible symbols of his remarkable swimming career. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Hall, who lost his home and personal belongings, including the possibility of his Olympic medals.
Hall, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1999, represented the United States in three Olympic Games — 1996, 2000, and 2004. Despite the overwhelming loss, the GoFundMe page emphasizes Hall’s resilience, stating, “Nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals.”
