| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's swimming | ||
| Competitor for the United States | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1968 Mexico City | 400 m medley |
| Silver | 1972 Munich | 200 m butterfly |
| Bronze | 1976 Montreal | 100 m butterfly |
Gary Wayne Hall, Sr. (born August 7, 1951 in Fayetteville, North Carolina) is an American ophthalmologist who practiced in Phoenix, Arizona who became famous during the late 1960s and the 1970s, as an Olympic swimmer for the United States. [1] [2]
Hall first went to represent the United States in the 1968 Olympic Games held at Mexico City, Mexico. Two years later he broke the world record in the 200 m butterfly.
His undergraduate swimming occurred at Indiana University under coach James Counsilman [2] [3] [4] [5] where he specialized in the individual medley. Hall was elected captain of the swimming team in his senior year. In academics, Hall excelled in the classroom and was consistently cited by the NCAA as an outstanding example of student-athlete. He was accepted for medical school at the University of Cincinnati.
At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he earned a silver medal during those games. His final Olympic appearance was at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Hall made it a point to vigorously exercise in the swimming pool after daily med-school classes. His wife, the former Mary Keating, being from a swimming family, understood his love of the water. In the Montreal closing ceremonies, his fellow athletes from all sports disciplines, nominated and elected him the USA flagbearer in the Closing Ceremony.
In 1981, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.[6] Later on, he also became a local celebrity in Phoenix, as an ophthalmologist. He himself appears at his office's television ads, and he also appears on his office's billboard campaigns.
His son, Gary Hall, Jr., has become a famous Olympic swimmer as well, starting in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, getting various gold medals at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. With his son's participation at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, the Halls became the first pair of father and son to make three Olympic appearances. (See also Pat McCormick and daughter Kelly for making consecutive Olympic Diving competitions - 1952/56 and 1984/88).
Along with business partner, Renee Ressler, he developed a line of sunglasses for children called FrubiShades, which are sold online and in retail stores nationwide.
He currently lives in Florida and operates the Race Club Swim Camps together with his wife Mary. The Race Club provides facilities, coaching, training, technical instruction, video, fitness and health programs for swimmers of all ages and abilities. Race Club camps are designed and tailored to satisfy each swimmer’s needs, whether one is trying to reach the Olympic Games or simply improve one’s fitness. The programs are suitable for beginner swimmers, pleasure swimmers, fitness swimmers, USA swimming or YMCA swimmers, or triathletes; anyone who wants to improve swimming skills.
He is the son-in-law of financier Charles H. Keating Jr. and brother-in-law to financier Charles H. Keating, III.
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