Gary Hall Jr. lost his Olympic medals in the LA fires, but the IOC will replace them
The International Olympic Committee stepped in to help after Hall shared his story. They confirmed they would provide him with replicas of the medals he earned during his swimming career. IOC president Thomas Bach expressed solidarity with the people of Los Angeles and praised the firefighters for their hard work.
Hall, who won multiple medals in the Olympics, shared a heartfelt video on Instagram about the devastation. He mentioned that while he lost all his possessions, the love and support from the community mean the world to him. He described the wildfires as worse than any movie he’s seen, recalling the chaos as he tried to escape with his dog.
He had just enough time to grab a few personal items before the flames took over. A GoFundMe has been set up to help him, and it’s already raised over $75,000. The fires have been tragic, claiming lives and destroying homes, but Hall’s resilience shines through as he looks to rebuild.
