U.S. swimmer gets new Olympic medals after losing | College News

Gary Hall Jr. gained 10 Olympic medals with the U.S. swimming workforce from 1996-2004, then misplaced them all in January when the home he was renting in the Pacific Palisades went up in flames.

He now has all 5 golds, all three silvers and both bronzes back in his possession again, after the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach introduced him with replicas Monday during a ceremony at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a telephone interview with The Times, Hall admitted he bought “emotional” at the ceremony over what he considers to be a super gesture by one of the most important governing our bodies in sports activities.

“Just the appreciation — ‘one of our own’ was kind of the sense that I was embraced with,” Hall stated. “When tough times happen, you find out who your friends are. And to see this response from the highest level of sport, it makes you feel special. It makes you feel supported, which is so needed at this time. And with the rebuilding process and dealing with incredible loss, that value is tremendous.

”… The measurement of our price is how a lot will we help others, and to be on the receiving finish of help and assist is both humbling and inspiring.”

Hall saved the medals in a fireproof protected — “I’ve got to check the warranty on that because it definitely was not fireproof,” he joked — in his bed room closet, bringing them out to help encourage youngsters and aspiring athletes during appearances and talking engagements.

When large wildfires struck the realm Jan. 7, Hall was unable to retrieve the medals before fleeing to security at his sister’s home in Encinitas. Weeks later, he returned to the location where his home had stood and discovered the protected amid the rubble. Hall was ready to open it but was “disappointed” at what he discovered inside.

“It was basically a pool of melted metal — you know, some combination of watches and jewelry and cuff links and Olympic medals inside that safe,” Hall stated. “It was all kind of pooled together in one big blob. I was able to pry out, like, these half-medals that kind of melted together. I offered it to President Thomas Bach, and he politely declined and told me that I should keep that one. It’s a unique Olympic medal, got a little character.”

He added: “There was another medal, a silver, that was kind of discernible, you could tell it was an Olympic medal. I may donate that one to the Olympic Museum” in Lausanne.

In addition to all of his possessions, the fire also price Hall his swim-lessons business, Sea Monkeys Swimming, which he ran out of the pool at his home. He is working to get a sports-betting platform for swimming up and operating and plans to use those funds to relaunch his business — first either in Florida, where he’s been staying for the final couple of months, or San Diego County and then ultimately back in the Palisades.

“I think everybody who lived in that area loved that area. It just isn’t there anymore,” Hall stated. “So this is the recovery process and it’s going to take time. This business that I had is dependent on families and kids being in the area. Those that I know and have spoken too, even those whose houses didn’t burn down, a lot of them are moving out because it’s just such a toxic environment. I love L.A. and it’s dire circumstance that’s forced me out, so it’s not goodbye.”

One “silver lining” to the scenario, Hall stated, is that his 17-year-old son Charlie bought to be with him when he obtained his new medals “because he didn’t get to see the first ones being won.”

“Being able to share this experience with him means the world to me,” Hall stated.