His 10 medals from across three Olympic Games editions (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) were destroyed as fire swept through his neighbourhood in Los Angeles earlier this year. On hearing about his loss, the IOC announced it would provide him with replicas to make up for it.
On this moving occasion, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We really appreciate your presence here. I cannot tell you how much we admire you, not only because of the medals, but because when we were reading your tragic story of losing your house, your possessions and all your worldly properties, this went straight to our heart. But even more so, when we learned how you overcame this tragedy in the style of a true Olympic champion, showing all the resilience, courage and confidence that you were known for as an athlete at the time, but you displayed under very different circumstances once more.”
After receiving the Olympic medals, Hall Jr spoke of what it meant to him to receive these replacements: “I’m emotional, it’s hard for me to put words together in this time. I would like to express my gratitude first and foremost.”
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Author: Dillon B
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