Mon Jan 13 11:43:55 UTC 2025: ## Olympian Gary Hall Jr. to Receive Replica Medals After Wildfire Loss
**Los Angeles, CA (January 13, 2025)** – Former American Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. will receive replica medals after losing his original ten Olympic medals in the recent devastating wildfires that destroyed his Pacific Palisades home. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach confirmed the news, stating that the IOC will provide Hall with replacements for the five gold, three silver, and two bronze medals he won at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic Games.
Hall, 50, was forced to evacuate his home, leaving behind his prized possessions. “I’m too proud to ask for help, but my worldly possessions right now are the clothes that I was wearing and a toothbrush that I bought yesterday,” Hall told the Los Angeles Times. He added that his home, business, and all his belongings, including his medals, were lost in the fire.
President Bach expressed the IOC’s solidarity with the people of Los Angeles affected by the wildfires, emphasizing the current focus on fighting the fires and protecting lives and property. He stated that the IOC’s offer of replica medals was a gesture of support for Hall, recognizing his significant contributions to the world of swimming and the Olympic Games.
First Piper 