US swimmer Gary Hall Jr loses Olympic gold medals in California wildfires: ‘Something I can live without’

Olympic gold medalist Gary Hall Jr. was among the thousands of California residents displaced by the wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area this week, and like many, he lost all of his priceless possessions – including all 10 of his Olympic medals. 

However, for Hall, he is grateful to have walked away with his life. 

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Hall recalled the moment he first saw a "plume of smoke" coming from his backyard. He was on the phone with his daughter when disaster struck.