Gary Hall Jr. Loses Home and Business in Fires

Former US Olympian Gary Hall Jr. has suffered the loss of his home and all personal possessions, including his 10 Olympic medals, due to the devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Hall, who managed to escape with his dog and a few personal items, described the scene as worse than any apocalypse movie, with flames rapidly engulfing homes and people abandoning their cars in panic. Despite the loss of his medals and livelihood, as his home was also the base for his swim teaching business, Hall remains grateful for his life. Hall's family and the swimming community have rallied to support him, with a GoFundMe page set up to assist in his recovery. The wildfires have led to the destruction of thousands of homes and at least five reported deaths, with nearly 180,000 residents evacuated.