Former U.S. Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. was barely able to escape his Los Angeles-area home before fast-spreading wildfires engulfed his neighborhood.
His house — and 10 Olympic gold medals — were not so lucky. Hall told Kyra O’Connor of 12News that he was able to flee from his home in Pacific Palisades and is staying with his sister, but fears that he lost everything in the fires that late this week remained mostly uncontrolled. “It’s not just a home, it’s all worldly possessions,” Hall Jr. told the news outlet. “I really am that guy with nothing to lose.”
Hall said he could see smoke heading directly toward his home, with flames quickly taking over the neighborhood. He said he took his dog and a few possessions before quickly leaving the home — leaving his Olympic medals behind.
“Hot embers were raining down on me as I jumped into the car,” Hall Jr. said. “It was just pandemonium.”
The Olympic medalist described a chaotic escape, with cars racing to escape the fire and some crashes, and people fleeing on foot. “It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before,” Hall Jr. said. “So many people lost everything. Where I lived, nothing stands.”
Hall represented the United States at the Summer Olympics in 1996, 2000, and 2004, winning five gold medals, three silver, and two bronze. He was part of relay teams that set two world records. Hall also gained fame for his unique preparation before competitions, wearing a robe and boxing shorts and flexing for the audience. The California wildfires have had other impact on the world of sports, forcing the Los Angeles Lakers to reschedule a game on Thursday and leading the NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings to be moved to Glendale, Ariz.
