Earlier this year, Gary Hall Jr, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, faced a life-changing tragedy: a fire destroyed his home, his swim school, and all his possessions. In an interview with ‘USA TODAY Sports‘, Hall reflected on the impact of sports on his life and how the lessons he learned in the pool helped him face this adversity. “Sport is not life or death. It’s entertainment. Even at the Olympics, at the end of the day, the world is not a better place because I swam fast.”
A LATE START THAT REACHED THE TOP
Hall, now 50, began competitive swimming at the age of 13 or 14, a late start compared to other elite athletes. Less than a decade later, he represented the United States at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic Games, winning a total of 10 Olympic medals. His unique style and carefree attitude, such as wearing silk boxing robes to competitions, made him a showman both in and out of the water.
However, Hall always understood that sports should be fun. His father, Gary Hall Sr, also an Olympic medalist, taught him to enjoy every moment, from training to competitions. “I learned to be present, to enjoy the atmosphere and the experience, even with the stress and anxiety before a race,” Hall recalled.
THE IMPACT OF SPORTS LESSONS ON LIFE
The fire that destroyed his Los Angeles home in January also melted two of his gold medals together. Despite the loss, Hall emphasized how the skills he gained from sports helped him stay calm in the chaos. “Sports build characteristics like staying calm in chaotic situations and thinking clearly,” he explained during the Project Play Summit, an event dedicated to promoting youth participation in sports.
Hall now lives in a guest house near his sister’s home in Encinitas, California, while working to rebuild his life and his swim school, where he used to teach children aged 2 to 6.
A FAMILY LEGACY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON SWIMMING
Hall’s connection to swimming spans generations. His grandfather, Charles Keating Jr, was a collegiate swimming champion who built swim clubs where Hall’s parents met. Although Hall initially preferred skateboarding, the extreme heat in Phoenix, where summer temperatures reached 120°F, led him to spend more time in the pool. “It was almost because of the extreme climate that I ended up being a swimmer,” he said.
That passion for competition drove him to excel in a sport that requires a balance between grueling training and the thrill of racing. “I loved that 1% of the sport, the race part,” Hall said.
THE FUTURE OF YOUTH SPORTS
As the father of two teenagers, Hall has taken a relaxed approach to sports. His daughter Gigi swam in high school and now has a scholarship to study art at the Savannah College of Art and Design. His son Charlie, on the other hand, is following in his father’s footsteps, training intensely to compete at the collegiate level. However, Hall acknowledges the current challenges, such as the lack of swim teams in some areas and the financial difficulties many families face.
“The goal of initiatives like Project Play is to increase youth sports participation to 63% by 2030,” Hall explained, highlighting the importance of accessible and affordable programs for all children.
SPORTS AS A LIFE-CHANGING FORCE
Despite the challenges, Hall continues to believe in the transformative power of sports. He is currently working on a sports betting platform for swimming, intending to allocate part of the earnings to youth programs in West Los Angeles. “I’ve seen firsthand how sports can change lives.”
The Olympic medals he won are just one part of his story. For Hall, the true lessons of sports are the ones that have helped him face life’s adversities with resilience and gratitude.
