- Swimming. Gary Hall Jr. loses home and medals in Los Angeles fire: "It looked like the apocalypse"
- Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers coach JJ Redick says his family 'evacuated' and people are 'freaking out' due to LA wildfires
Thomas Bach has announced that the International Olympic Committee he chairswill provide former swimmer Gary Hall Jr. with replicas of the 10 Olympic medals he won at the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games.The former athlete lost them in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which have claimed the lives of 16 people.He had to leave his home quickly and was only able to save his dog, Puddles, grab his insulin, a painting of his grandfather and another of the 'Blessed Mary' given to him by his daughter. Former swimmer Hall was renting in one of the areas ravaged by fire, where he taught children to swim through his business, Sea Monkeys Swimming.
"We stand in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and are full of iration for the tireless work of the firefighters and law enforcement officers. At this time, all attention must be focused on fighting the fires and protecting people and property. We have also learned that a great Olympian, Gary Hall Jr, has lost his medals in the fire. The IOC will provide him with replicas," said the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
Ten Olympic medals
"It was worse than any apocalypse movie you've ever seen and 1,000 times worse. I saw a column of smoke coming out of the back of my house, the houses were starting to explode. There were explosions. I didn't have much time. Sunset Boulevard was completely crowded. People abandoned their cars and ran for their lives," said Gary Hall Jr in a California media outlet
It was worse than any apocalypse movie
The former swimmer won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in his three Olympic appearances in the 50-meter freestyle and in his country's relay teams, and the house he was renting is one of those destroyed by fire in the Palisades area of Los Angeles.
The serious fires of recent days have caused the death of 16 people, according to the latest data from the local coroner's office, 11 of them by the Eaton fire, located northeast and near the cities of Pasadena and Altadena, and five by the Palisades fire, the largest and most extensive so far.