USA Olympic hero Gary Hall Jr. fears losing his gold medals in the LA fires after being forced to flee his Pacific Palisades home.
Gary Hall Jr., a 10-time Olympic medalist and five-time gold medalist, is grappling with the loss of his possessions in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
The 50-year-old swimmer fled his Pacific Palisades home with only his dog, a few essentials, and heartbreaking uncertainty about the fate of his treasured medals.
Gary Hall Jr.’s Harrowing escape from the flames
The wildfire’s rapid spread forced Hall Jr. to leave everything behind. Flames approached his home quickly, consuming houses as they moved down the hill.
“Hot embers were raining down as I jumped into my car,” Hall Jr. told 12news. “I didn’t have time to grab anything. Everything is gone.”
After spotting flames outside the window of his Pacific Palisades home, the 50-year-old fled, leaving behind his Olympic medals
‘I did not have time to grab anything. Everything is gone.’Hall Jr. said to 12news.
Among the items left behind are his ten Olympic medals, irreplaceable family heirlooms, and cherished photos. Hall Jr. shared the emotional toll of losing both his home and his memories.
What Gary Hall Jr. Managed to save
‘Hot embers were raining down on me as I jumped into the car. It’ll be tough going back to the site, going through the ashes, trying to find the things that may have survived the fire, but no expectations in that regard.
‘I did not have time to grab anything. Everything is gone.’
Despite the chaos, Hall Jr. fled with his dog, Puddles, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious keepsake from his daughter.
“It’ll be tough going back to the site, going through the ashes, trying to find anything that may have survived,” he said. “But I have no expectations.”
After the incident, supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Hall Jr. rebuild his life
The fundraiser aims to collect $25,000, with over $20,000 already donated.
The page highlights his resilient spirit, stating, “Nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals.”
Hall Jr. described the apocalyptic scenes as he drove away, witnessing people abandoning cars and fleeing on foot.
“It was like something out of an apocalypse movie,” he said. “These are images I’ll carry with me for a long time.”
A lifetime of achievements now in Ashes
Hall Jr. competed in three Olympic Games—Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004. His illustrious career includes a remarkable feat of earning ten Olympic medals.
Beyond swimming, Hall Jr. made headlines in 2006 when he fended off a shark to save his sister while spearfishing in Florida. Before the wildfire, he was renting his Pacific Palisades home and running a business teaching children how to swim.
The Wider impact of the Los Angeles wildfires
The wildfires, which began Tuesday, have claimed at least five lives and destroyed an estimated 2,000 buildings. The blazes continue to wreak havoc across Southern California, displacing tens of thousands of residents.
Though Hall Jr. faces significant losses, he remains with family in San Diego. His story has resonated with people worldwide, demonstrating resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
As the community rallies around him, Hall Jr.’s courage and determination remind us that even in loss, the human spirit endures.