Gary Hall Jr. Reclaims His Olympic Medals

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After a devastating fire destroyed all his Olympic medals, swimming legend Gary Hall Jr. made history once again — but this time, in an entirely unexpected way.

On Monday, at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Switzerland, Hall Jr. became the first athlete ever to be re-awarded 10 Olympic medals on the same day.

"I’ll do a better job of taking care of these," Hall Jr. joked as he received replacements for the five golds, three silvers, and two bronzes he earned while representing the United States at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Games.

The original medals were lost four months ago when a fire ravaged his home in Pacific Palisades, the same city set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“It was a unique ceremony,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “I don’t think this has ever happened before, and I hope it will never have to happen again. We want to give you a moment of relief and joy to help you heal from this tragedy.”

Hall Jr., visibly moved, spoke about the overwhelming support he received from family, former teammates, and even his old rivals — including Australian swimming greats Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim.

"Having friends and family, I am a very lucky man," Hall Jr. said. "The support I received from the athletic community buoyed me through the darkest of nights."

Among the items Hall Jr. brought to the IOC ceremony was a charred gold medal, recovered from the ruins of his home — a home he fled with only his dog, Puddles, and his vital insulin medication in hand.

"It’s got some character," Hall Jr. said, holding the scorched medal. "The value of friends far outweighs the value of objects. In a world of capitalism and consumerism, you realize after losing everything how little you actually need.

"Character cannot be taken away, it cannot be burned, and it cannot be lost."

One of the first calls Hall Jr. received after the tragedy was from Thorpe, his rival-turned-friend who famously helped defeat the U.S. team in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"I don’t know how he knew," Hall Jr. said of Thorpe’s call. "But that’s what this Olympic family is about — rivals and friends. I am so appreciative of all of them. I can’t thank the Olympic movement enough for their support during this very difficult time."

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