I’m not usually a fan, but Thomas Bach is a king for this.
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stated Sunday that United States swimming legend Gary Hall Jr. will receive new medals as replacements for those destroyed in the Los Angeles fires.
Recently, Hall Jr. had to quickly evacuate from his Pacific Palisades residence due to intense flames ripping through his oceanside community.
The swimming icon said he was only able to save his dog, the insulin for his diabetes, a painting of his grandfather and a religious item. Sadly, he wasn’t able to come back to his home to retrieve his ten Olympic medals — five gold, three silver and two bronze. He won those medals over a span of three different Olympic Games (1996, 2000 and 2004). (RELATED: Video Of Cam Newton Pulling Himself Up Into Helicopter Is Pure America)
“I was getting pelted by embers on that first run,” Hall told the Los Angeles Times. “So I grabbed my dog and some dog food, and that was it.”
To make things right, or at least as much as possible, Bach took to Twitter to say Hall will receive replica medals as replacements for his lost ones.
“We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces,” said Bach. “Currently the full focus must be on the fight against the fires and the protection of the 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.”
“We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces. Currently the full focus must be on the fight against the fires and the protection of the people and property. We have also…
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) January 12, 2025
Say what you want about the guy, but this is a class act by Thomas Bach here.
