After losing all ten of his Olympic medals in the devastating Palisades Fire earlier this year, American swimming legend Gary Hall Jr. was honoured with an emotional ceremony at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach presented him with replica medals.

It was a moment of reflection and recognition in the heart of the Olympic Capital. Surrounded by friends, fellow Olympians, and members of the Olympic family, Gary Hall Jr. — one of Team USA's most decorated swimmers — was presented with replica versions of the ten medals he earned across the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

"What matters most," said IOC President Thomas Bach to open the occasion, "is the Olympic spirit that lives on in you, Gary — a spirit that no fire can destroy."

World Aquatics Interview with Gary Hall Jr.

World Aquatics: Gary, what does this ceremony mean to you? Taking this all in, what do you feel in this moment? 

Gary Hall Jr: I'm emotional. It's hard for me to put words together at this moment, but I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude. Never before has anyone lost — and then received — ten replacement Olympic medals. It's probably because nobody has ever lost ten medals before. I'll take much better care of these ones.

I brought one of the melted medals with me. This was originally two gold medals: one from Atlanta and one from Athens. They fused together in the fire. In its place now is this new one… and it already has some character.

What I've come to realize through this experience is that the value of friendship far outweighs the value of things. Character can't be burned; it can't be lost. What matters is what's inside of us — our spirit. In a world so focused on consumerism, losing everything makes you realize just how little you really need. What got me through this time was the overwhelming support from the aquatics community. I count myself very rich in friends. Thank you.

Having these Olympic medals back around your neck — does it bring back any special memories from your Olympic experiences?

Gary Hall Jr: Every Olympic memory is a cherished one. But I'll share a story that really touched me. After the fire, one of the very first people to reach out was Ian Thorpe. He's one of my fiercest rivals — and one of the reasons I have a few silver medals instead of gold. The only people who called before him were my family. I don't even know how he found out so quickly. But he did, and he reached out with such compassion. Then Michael Klim, Grant Hackett — all these great Australian swimmers I'd battled over the years — they called too. That's what the Olympic family is. Rivals, yes, but also friends. And I'm so grateful to them and all my teammates from Team USA, who also reached out. It meant the world.

Can you share a favourite or particularly meaningful medal among the ten? Was there one loss that hit you hardest?

Gary Hall Jr: It's hard to pick just one, but the gold medal from the 50 freestyle in Athens in 2004 was my final Olympic medal — and it was perfect. The race, the moment, the culmination of everything. That medal represents the peak for me.

But the toughest medal — emotionally — was the bronze in the 100 freestyle in Sydney. Just over a year before those Games, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I became the first person with that diagnosis to ever compete and medal at the Olympics. The night before that race, our U.S. relay team lost — for the first time in Olympic history — and it crushed me. But I bounced back the next day and out-touched the guy who had broken the World Record in that same relay. I beat him by a hundredth of a second. That race was the hardest and the one I'm most proud of.

You mentioned your father earlier — a three-time Olympian himself — and now your son is getting into the sport. What's your connection to swimming these days?

Gary Hall Jr.: My father still teaches camps and clinics with the Race Club — he's never left the sport. As for me, I'd stepped back for a while. But now, with my son starting to rise through the ranks, I'm getting pulled back in. I'm back on the pool deck, more engaged at the competitive level. And even before that, I never really left the water — I still teach swimming, especially to young kids. Getting in the water with six-year-olds and sharing my love for swimming with them is something I truly enjoy. Swimming will always be a part of my life.

Los Angeles has had a devastating year with the wildfires, yet the city will host the Olympic Games in less than three years. What message do you think this moment sends about resilience—in sport and in life?

Gary Hall Jr: That's exactly the word — resilience. That's what the Olympic Movement stands for—being undeterred in the face of adversity. And that's how I see LA28. After the fire, people asked me, "Will LA still be ready to host the Games?" And I said absolutely — there's no doubt in my mind. That's the Olympian mindset: put a challenge in front of us, and we rise.

After the fire, I felt this overwhelming urge to rebuild. When I was in high school, I had a side gig as a beekeeper. And when you smoke the hive, the bees' instinct is to fly out and collect pollen — they immediately go out to build. I felt that same instinct. To rebuild bigger, better, stronger. That's where I'm at. I've taken the time to make a plan, and now it's just about putting one foot in front of the other and turning that plan into action.

What is it about Southern California, especially Los Angeles, and swimming? Swimming has strong roots across the United States and is a truly global sport, but there seems to be something uniquely deep and even profound in its connection to Southern California.

Gary Hall Jr.: Aquatics is woven into Southern California's culture. Whether it's surfing, diving, boating, sailing—being a waterman is part of the identity down there. And it's not just elite athletes. You talk to business owners, teachers, people from all walks of life, and chances are they've had some connection to the water. Maybe they swam in high school, played water polo, or did Junior Lifeguards as a kid. In Southern California, you're kind of indoctrinated into the aquatic lifestyle from a young age. That's why it's going to be especially meaningful to have the upcoming Olympic Games back in Los Angeles. Hosting in such a water-oriented community means it will be deeply appreciated.

Looking ahead — we've talked about the past, but let's talk about the future. With the LA28 Games around the corner and swimming set to take place in a 50m pool inside SoFi Stadium, how exciting is that for the sport? And what do you think about seeing 50m races across all strokes?

Gary Hall Jr.: I love it. The more sprint events, the better. And not just because I was a sprinter. The audience loves it too. It's easy to understand: from here to there, fastest wins. That's how every kid starts in any backyard jellybean-shaped pool. It's direct, dynamic, and immediately engages people in the sport. I'm thrilled to see the evolution of swimming heading in that direction.

And SoFi? It is the marquee venue given to the marquee sport. I mean, this one is a big deal, and LA 28 knows that. It's so great to see swimming getting this recognition.

Closing Words from IOC President Thomas Bach:

"Gary, through your journey, you have shown that Olympic medals may be lost, but the Olympic values live on. Your strength and your spirit are an inspiration to us all."