Three-time United States Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. has been left homeless after the raging Los Angeles wildfires engulfed his Pacific Palisades home, resulting in the loss of nearly all his possessions. Hall, who won 10 Olympic medals including five golds, said in an interview that he was able to grab only his dog, a pair of shoes, and a pair of underwear before leaving his home, leaving behind many of his treasures, including his 10 Olympic medals.
In the interview with 12News, Hall said, “It’s not just a home, it’s all worldly possessions. I really am that guy with nothing to lose.” He was only able to escape with some essential items such as his dog, insulin and some paintings, including one featuring his grandfather. Hall described the terrifying scene, saying, “It grew quickly, then flames, and you could see the houses going up one by one as it moved down the hill to where I was. It was not very far away when I drove off…. Hot embers were raining down on me as I jumped into the car. It was just pandemonium.”
The wildfires, which have scorched over 28,000 acres, have forced nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate their homes and have resulted in at least five reported deaths, with the death toll still unknown. Hall took refuge in a hotel and eventually his sister’s house, bearing witness to chaotic scenes of destruction and panic on the streets, saying, “It was just unlike anything I’ve ever seen in any apocalypse movie.”
