Olympic Champion Hall Jr. Receives Replicas of 10 Medals Lost in LA Fires
Multiple Olympic swimming champion Gary Hall Jr. received replicas of his 10 Olympic medals on Monday after the originals were destroyed during the Los Angeles wildfires in January.
The medals were presented to him by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during a ceremony at the Games ruling body's headquarters in Lausanne, Reuters reported.
"Thank you for the medals," Hall Jr. said in a brief speech. "Never before have 10 Olympic medals been replaced. Probably because no one has lost 10 medals before. I will do a better job at taking care of these.
"The realization through this process that outweighs any sense of loss is this word of solidarity and what it means which cannot be taken away."
Hall represented the United States at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.
The 50-year-old was forced to leave the medals behind at his Pacific Palisades home during the fires which tore through the Los Angeles area.
"When we were reading your tragic story of losing your house and all your possessions and all your worldly properties, this was going straight to our heart," Bach said.
The wildfires killed at least 29 people and destroyed large sections of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades neighborhoods in Los Angeles, displacing tens of thousands of people.
It is estimated to be the most expensive natural disaster in US history.
Los Angeles will host the next summer Olympics in 2028.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
16 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Olympic Champions Errani, Paolini Win French Open Women's Doubles Title
Italian pair Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini beat Kazakh Anna Danilina and Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic 6-4 2-6 6-1 to win the women's doubles title at the French Open on Sunday, Reuters reported. It was the first Grand Slam trophy for the second-seeded Italians, who also won the Paris 2024 Olympics doubles title on the same court last year. It was also 38-year-old veteran Errani's second title this week after also clinching the French Open mixed doubles title with compatriot Andrea Vavassori. The pairs traded breaks midway through the first set before the Olympic gold medallists, who had reached the final at the French Open last year, bagged it with another break at 5-4. Danilina, a 2022 Australian Open doubles finalist, and Krunic bounced back, easily earning the second set but they were broken twice at the start of the third as the Italians raced to a 5-0 lead. The Italians, sixth in the doubles rankings, wrapped up their first Grand Slam title as a pair when Krunic sank a forehand into the net. Paolini, who reached both the women's singles and doubles final at the French Open last year, had lost in the fourth round of this year's singles edition.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
GENEVA: US President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term. Yet there is significant uncertainty regarding visa policies for foreign visitors planning trips to the US for the two biggest events in sports. Trump's latest travel ban on citizens from 12 countries added new questions about the impact on the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, which depend on hosts opening their doors to the world. Here's a look at the potential effects of the travel ban on those events. What is the travel ban policy? For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport They are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Tighter restrictions will apply to visitors from seven more: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Trump said some countries had 'deficient' screening and vetting processes or have historically refused to take back their own citizens. How does it affect the World Cup and Olympics? Iran, a soccer power in Asia, is the only targeted country to qualify so far for the World Cup being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in one year's time. Cuba, Haiti and Sudan are in contention. Sierra Leone might stay involved through multiple playoff games. Burundi, Equatorial Guinea and Libya have very outside shots. But all should be able to send teams to the World Cup if they qualify because the new policy makes exceptions for 'any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state.' About 200 countries could send athletes to the Summer Games, including those targeted by the latest travel restrictions. The exceptions should apply to them as well if the ban is still in place in its current form. What about fans? The travel ban doesn't mention any exceptions for fans from the targeted countries wishing to travel to the US for the World Cup or Olympics. Even before the travel ban, fans of the Iran soccer team living in that country already had issues about getting a visa for a World Cup visit. Still, national team supporters often profile differently to fans of club teams who go abroad for games in international competitions like the UEFA Champions League. For many countries, fans traveling to the World Cup — an expensive travel plan with hiked flight and hotel prices — are often from the diaspora, wealthier, and could have different passport options. A World Cup visitor is broadly higher-spending and lower-risk for host nation security planning. Visitors to an Olympics are often even higher-end clients, though tourism for a Summer Games is significantly less than at a World Cup, with fewer still from most of the 19 countries now targeted. How is the US working with FIFA, Olympic officials? FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly built close ties since 2018 to Trump — too close according to some. He has cited the need to ensure FIFA's smooth operations at a tournament that will earn a big majority of the soccer body's expected $13 billion revenue from 2023-26. Infantino sat next to Trump at the White House task force meeting on May 6 which prominently included Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. FIFA's top delegate on the task force is Infantino ally Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs partner whose two-year run as US Soccer Federation president ended in controversy in 2020. Any visa and security issues FIFA faces — including at the 32-team Club World Cup that kicks off next week in Miami — can help LA Olympics organizers finesse their plans. 'It was very clear in the directive that the Olympics require special consideration and I actually want to thank the federal government for recognizing that,' LA28 chairman and president Casey Wasserman said Thursday in Los Angeles. 'It's very clear that the federal government understands that that's an environment that they will be accommodating and provide for,' he said. 'We have great confidence that that will only continue. It has been the case to date and it will certainly be the case going forward through the games.' In March, at an IOC meeting in Greece, Wasserman said he had two discreet meetings with Trump and noted the State Department has a 'fully staffed desk' to help prepare for short-notice visa processing in the summer of 2028 — albeit with a focus on teams rather than fans. IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz, who is chair of the Coordination Commission for LA28, expressed 'every confidence' that the US government will cooperate, as it did in hosting previous Olympics. 'That is something that we will be definitely looking at and making sure that it is guaranteed as well,' she said. 'We are very confident that this is going to be accomplished. I'm sure this is going to be executed well.' FIFA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the new Trump travel ban. What have other host nations done? The 2018 World Cup host Russia let fans enter the country with a game ticket doubling as their visa. So did Qatar four years later. Both governments, however, also performed background checks on all visitors coming to the month-long soccer tournaments. Governments have refused entry to unwelcome visitors. For the 2012 London Olympics, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko — who is still its authoritarian leader today — was denied a visa despite also leading its national Olympic body. The IOC also suspended him from the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Exclusive Saudi karate prodigy Abdullah Alqahtani hopes to emulate Tarek Hamdi
Four years ago, Abdullah Alqahtani was watching on television as Saudi karateka Tarek Hamdi won an Olympic silver medal for the Kingdom in Tokyo. Hamdi's karate silver was an instantly iconic sporting moment for Saudi Arabia; for Alqahtani, it was transformational. As a promising young karateka himself, Alqahtani saw a fellow Saudi competing – and winning – at the highest level of the sport. He was immediately imbued with a belief that he could follow in Hamdi's footsteps and Alqahtani – now 17 years old – has recently been making his own mark on the sport of karate. For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page. 'Tarek Hamdi's Olympic silver medal was tremendously motivating for all of us Saudi athletes,' Alqahtani told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. 'I remember watching him compete and it showed us that with perseverance and hard work, we can achieve our goals at the highest levels. 'What I admire most in athletes like Tarek are their qualities: unwavering determination, mental resilience in the face of challenges, discipline in training, sportsmanship both in victory and defeat, and their ability to be positive ambassadors for their countries. 'I'm particularly drawn to athletes who maintain humility despite their success and I can confirm Tarek is not only an exceptional athlete but also has a wonderful personality, which makes him a positive role model for younger karateka like myself. 'His achievement inspired us to continue pushing our limits.' Alqahtani has pushed particularly hard in the years since the Tokyo Olympics, aided by the support of the Saudi Karate Federation and Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. In 2024, he achieved a crowning moment in his burgeoning karate career, winning the World Junior Male Kumite +76kg title. Alqahtani took home the gold medal after beating Italian home favorite Federico Supino in the final of the competition in Venice-Jesolo last October. 'Winning the World Junior gold was an incredible and emotional experience,' Alqahtani recalled. 'The moment was particularly special because I had the opportunity to raise the Saudi flag at this prestigious international event. 'It was a profound feeling of pride – not just for my achievement, but for representing my country on the world stage. The culmination of years of hard work made that moment truly unforgettable.' Alqahtani admits he was first drawn to practicing karate 'purely by chance' but quickly realized he had a level of proficiency that lent itself to competition. While most other teenagers his age in Saudi Arabia tend to focus their attention on football, Alqahtani's life has been karate-centric for several years now. 'As I developed my skills and gained more experience in competitions, I began to understand that with dedication and proper training, I could reach the international level,' he said. 'I love karate because it's much more than just a physical sport. It teaches fundamental values like respect, discipline, and self-confidence. These principles have shaped not only my athletic career but also my character and approach to life. 'The mental aspects of karate are as crucial as the physical techniques, creating a balanced development.' The dual physical and mental demands of karate are significant in competition, when one little slip or small lapse in concentration can result in a defeat. It is for that reason that Alqahtani undergoes a rigorous training regimen. 'I train daily throughout the week, and I've got used to this routine,' he explained. 'Staying consistent means I can refine my techniques, build endurance, and maintain mental focus for competition. 'A daily commitment is essential for competing at an international standard. It can be tough but I've come to learn that what might seem challenging initially becomes manageable with practice and dedication. 'This mindset has helped me overcome various obstacles in competition. The key is persistence and believing in the training process.' Alqahtani will continue to compete internationally within 2025 as he seeks more experience and, of course, more success. Unsurprisingly, his ultimate sporting goal is to emulate compatriot Hamdi and win an Olympic medal in karate. As things stand, however, it is an impossible dream. The Tokyo Games was karate's debut as an Olympic sport but it was removed from the roster for Paris 2024 – and will not be included at Los Angeles 2028 either despite making it onto the initial shortlist. Alqahtani is hoping that by the time the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia rolls around, karate may return to the Olympic fold. 'One of our biggest aspirations is to see karate reinstated as an Olympic sport, which would allow us to compete for Olympic medals,' explained Alqahtani, who will be 24 in 2032. 'This is what we all hope for as karate athletes. The opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympic Games would be the pinnacle of our sporting careers. 'We continue to train and compete with this dream in mind, hoping that karate will be reinstated in the Olympic program in the future. Achieving success at the highest international levels and continuing to develop as an athlete remains my focus. I want to reach my full potential in this sport that has given me so much.'
