“Flames of Fate: Gary Hall Jr.’s Heartbreaking Loss of 10 Olympic Medals in Palisades Blaze”

Gary Hall Jr. paid little attention to the small, discolored cloud he observed from the kitchen of his Pacific Palisades residence on Tuesday morning.

Then, he spotted a slender smoke plume in the sky that swelled rapidly within a minute. The scent of smoke began to fill the air.

By the moment he noticed flames erupting from houses above in the distance, the previous U.S. Olympic swimming champion knew he had to vacate the rental home on Lachman Lane, where he had resided with his dog, Puddles, while operating his business, Sea Monkeys Swimming, since 2020.

“One of the factors that contributed to my success as a high-level sports competitor was my ability to stay exceptionally calm in high-pressure situations,” Hall remarked to The Times during a phone call on Thursday from Encinitas, where he’s currently with his sister, Maria Diego.

“And I was that [on Tuesday]—you know, practical, making judgments and assessing the situation. I could see this unfolding disaster, and I realized that the house was going to catch fire.”

That residence, Hall noted, has been reduced to ashes. Over 5,000 structures have been consumed by the Palisades fire, one of multiple significant wildfires that have impacted Los Angeles County this week. As of Friday morning, the Palisades fire was reported to be 8% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Hall took with him only the insulin necessary for managing his Type 1 diabetes, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious relic. He had intended to return inside to grab ten more cherished items—the five gold, three silver, and two bronze medals he earned across three Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004)—but came to the realization that time was not on his side.

“I was getting struck by embers during that initial run,” Hall recounted. “So I seized my dog and some dog food, and that was all.”

He had arranged to rendezvous with his girlfriend, Lara Pezza, at the Palisades Village. However, the “panic” and “chaos” he witnessed shortly after his arrival made him understand that it wasn’t wise to do so.

“People were sprinting in every direction, and the traffic became so jammed that there was nowhere left to escape,” Hall stated. “Parents were so eager to retrieve their children from school that they resorted to driving on the sidewalks, colliding with other vehicles. It was perilous—forget the fire, people are going to perish in the stampede.”

Structures in Palisades Village suffered extensive damage from the Palisades fire.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Hall and Pezza utilized their familiarity with the local streets to evade the heavy traffic and congregate on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Afterwards, they proceeded to his sister’s home, where Hall mentioned he has been “taking stock of everything that has transpired.”

“It’s the fight-or-flight adrenaline response, so we were quite alert and energized for 24 hours,” said Hall, who contributed to The Times during the 2008 and 2010 Olympics. “Then I believe the fatigue that follows is beginning to take hold. Today, I feel utterly overwhelmed by the sheer number of individuals reaching out, those who have heard the news and are checking in to ensure that I’m alright.”

He added: “It’s overwhelming. So, you know, sit down, have a moment of silence—I haven’t quite reached that point yet. But I’m certain that the devastation will eventually hit me.”

Another sister, Amy Botha, launched an online fundraising campaign to assist Hall in recovering. By Friday morning, it had garnered over $57,000.

“I’m too proud to request assistance, but my worldly belongings at this moment consist only of the clothes on my back and a toothbrush that I purchased yesterday,” Hall noted. “My 10 Olympic medals, everything else I owned, along with my home and my business, were lost. So she initiated this GoFundMe project, and as a result, many people are reaching out.”

U.S. swimmer Gary Hall competes in a semifinal of the 50-meter freestyle at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

(Thomas Kienzle / Associated Press)

At age 50, Hall stated that he is gearing up for “a complete reconstruction” of his life.

“There’s nothing for me to return to there,” he expressed regarding Pacific Palisades. “Thus, I must seek housing. While it’s pleasant to stay with my sister, I eventually need to secure my own place. And purchase basic necessities, like underwear, you know. And relaunch the business in a new location.”

As for where he might relocate to begin anew, Hall said, “I haven’t had the opportunity to contemplate it.”

Hall is aware of countless others who find themselves in similar circumstances, especially the families whose children he taught to swim in his backyard pool. That, he remarked, is “the most heartbreaking aspect” of the situation.

“Since 2020, I have connected with and helped numerous families in the region, particularly children aged 2 to 6. All of them have been displaced. That’s what weighs heaviest on my mind,” Hall recounted. “We’re discussing hundreds of families I’ve had the privilege of getting to know intimately and forming friendships with their kids. …

“That’s what has affected me more emotionally, sending ‘be safe’ messages to individuals who have lost their homes and to children who are just 4 years old, struggling to comprehend what has transpired here. The world they once knew has been annihilated.”