Gary Hall, Jr.

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Olympic medal record
Men's swimming
Gold 1996 Atlanta 4x100m freestyle relay
Gold 1996 Atlanta 4x100 medley relay
Gold 2000 Sydney 50m freestyle
Gold 2000 Sydney 4x100 medley relay
Gold 2004 Athens 50m freestyle
Silver 1996 Atlanta 50m freestyle
Silver 1996 Atlanta 100m freestyle
Silver 2000 Sydney 4x100m freestyle relay
Bronze 2000 Sydney 100m freestyle
Bronze 2004 Athens 4x100 freestyle relay
(swam on preliminary, but not on final)

For his father, also an Olympian, see Gary Hall Sr.

Gary Wayne Hall Jr. (born September 26, 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American swimmer who competed in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics and won ten Olympic medals (5 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze).

Hall is well known for his antics before a competition; frequently strutting onto the pool deck in boxing shorts and robe, shadow boxing and flexing for the audience. He is a graduate of swimming powerhouse Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona.

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[edit] Swimmers in the family

His father Gary Hall, Sr. also competed in three Olympics as a swimmer (1968, 1972 and 1976). His maternal uncle Charles Keating III swam in the 1976 Olympics, and his maternal grandfather Charles Keating Jr., well known for his conviction in the Savings and Loan scandal of the 1989, was a national swimming champion in the 1940s.

[edit] 1996 Atlanta Games

In his first Olympics at the age of 21, Hall had only 6 years of swimming experience yet he already had a well-known rivalry with Russia's Alexander Popov. Hall and his teammates dominated the relay events, but Popov continued to beat Hall in the individual events. The rivalry grew more bitter than ever. In an interview with the media, Popov said that Hall was incapable of beating him because he "comes from a family of losers." Hall responded by coming to his next event in leather motorcycle pants and executing his usual shadow boxing and flexing routine.

Hall won two individual silvers and two team relay golds at the games including helping set the world record in both the 400m freestyle and medley relays.

[edit] Diabetes

In 1999, Gary Hall Jr. was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, commonly referred to as childhood or juvenile diabetes. Upon his diagnosis, Hall struggled with the possibilities and the effects he knew the medical condition would have on his life. Hall took a short hiatus from swimming, but returned in time to compete in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. There he won the 50m freestyle and placed second in the 100m freestyle. His 50m time, at 21.76 seconds set a new American record, beating the ten-year old record set by Tom Jager.

[edit] 2000 Sydney Games

Hall's success continued in the 2000 Summer Olympics. He won the gold medal in the individual 50m freestyle, tying with his fellow American teammate Anthony Ervin, and won the gold and silver in the team relays. Prior to 4x100m Freestyle Relay, Hall publicly announced that the Americans would smash the Australian team "like guitars". Hall swam last in the team against Australian Ian Thorpe. Thorpe had a better start and came up a body length in front of Hall. Hall managed a lead but Thorpe fought back, ending the traditional American dominance of the event. He also won the bronze in the 100m freestyle.

[edit] 2004 Athens Games

On 2004 Summer Olympics, he won again the gold medal in 50 m Freestyle, beating some important swimmers like teammate Jason Lezak and South- African Roland Mark Schoeman who won silver in the 100 m Freestyle. He also won a bronze medal for competing in the preliminary heat of the men's 400 meter freestyle relay.

[edit] The Race Club

The Race Club is swimming club founded by Gary Hall, Jr. and his father, Gary Hall, the club is designed to serve as a training group for some of the world's elite swimmers. To be able to train with the Race Club one must either have been ranked in the top 20 in the world the past 3 calendar years or top 3 in their nation in the past year. The Race Club includes such well known swimmers as Roland Mark Schoeman, Mark Foster,Ryk Neethling, Ricky Busquets and Therese Alshammar. They are coached by University of California, Berkeley coach Mike Bottom, who was the coach of Hall and Anthony Ervin before the 2000 Sydney games. The Race Club also offers various swimming camps and clinics year round for young swimmers at their Islamorada,Florida based training center.

[edit] Personality

Hall has long been one of competitive swimming's most colorful personalities. He often shadow-boxes before a race and is known for wearing a boxing robe in lieu of the usual warm-ups. His eccentricity has won him a great deal of fans, but what some perceive to be "showboating" has drawn substantial criticism.

[edit] Additional honors

  • American record holder in the 50 meter freestyle.
  • Owns three of the top 10 all-time performances in the 50 meter freestyle.
  • Seventh fastest man ever in the 100 freestyle.
  • Fastest U.S. split ever in 400 meter Freestyle Relay.
  • Humanitarian Award winner at 2004 Golden Goggle Awards.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Olympic champions in men's 50 m freestyle
1988: Matt Biondi | 1992: Alexander Popov | 1996: Alexander Popov | 2000: Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall, Jr. | 2004: Gary Hall, Jr.
  • [1] Gary Hall Jr.'s U.S. Olympic Team bio ... featuring Gary's tips on spear fishing, boxing
  • [2] Official website
  • [3] Official website of the Race Club
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