Gary Hall Jr. to Receive Replica Medals After Wildfire Loss

Gary Hall Jr., a former U.S. Olympic swimmer will receive replica medals after losing his original set in the Los Angeles wildfires as confirmed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. Hall a three-time Olympian had to evacuate his home in Pacific Palisades last week as the fire spread through his neighborhood. He left with only his dog, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather and a religious artifact, unable to retrieve his five gold, three silver and two bronze medals from the 1996-2004 Olympic Games.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Bach expressed admiration for the firefighters’ efforts and confirmed that Gary Hall Jr. would be provided with replica medals. He emphasized that the focus must remain on the ongoing firefighting efforts and the protection of people and property. Hall, 50, explained to the Los Angeles Times that he prioritized his safety over retrieving the medals, acknowledging the risk posed by the flying embers.

In the midst of the crisis, the Los Angeles Clippers’ head coach, Tyronn Lue shared the emotional toll the situation was taking on his team. The Clippers were preparing to face the Miami Heat while the Los Angeles Lakers, who had their own share of losses in the fire were set to play the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA had postponed several games including the Lakers’ match against the Charlotte Hornets to avoid diverting resources from wildfire response efforts.

Lue expressed the difficulty of focusing on basketball amidst the devastation, acknowledging that life and safety were far more important. He also supported the NBA’s decision to resume games, hoping that the games could bring some joy to people during such a challenging time with over 100,000 people still under evacuation orders.