Tue May 06 12:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Olympic Legend Gary Hall Jr. Receives Replacement Medals After House Fire

**LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND** – American swimming great Gary Hall Jr. received 10 replica Olympic medals from IOC President Thomas Bach in a deeply emotional ceremony at Olympic House. The original medals, earned across three Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004), were destroyed in a devastating house fire in Los Angeles earlier this year.

President Bach praised Hall Jr.’s resilience, stating, “We admire you not only for your medals, but for overcoming this tragedy with the courage and confidence of a true Olympic champion.” The ceremony was particularly poignant as Hall Jr. displayed two melted gold medals from Atlanta and Athens, fused together by the fire’s intense heat.

An overcome Hall Jr. expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m emotional; it’s hard for me to put words together.” He also shared his excitement for the LA28 Olympic Games, recalling the inspiration he drew from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a child. The ceremony concluded with Hall Jr. signing the Olympian Wall at Olympic House.

The event overshadowed other announcements from the IOC, including the appointments of Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski as Chair of the Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032 and Humphrey Kayange as Chair for Dakar 2026. Further announcements included recognition of Paris 2024’s digital initiatives at the 2025 Webby Awards and the unveiling of LA28’s comprehensive venue plan.

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