American swimmer Gary Hall Jr. is one of 6 new inductees to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in their class of 2018.
Hall is a 10-time Olympic medalist including 5 gold medals. He’s one of only two swimmers in history, male or female, to win successfully defend an Olympic title in the 50 free, winning gold in 2000 (tied with Anthony Ervin) and again in 2004. He also won 6 World Championships in long course, 4 Pan Pacific gold medals, and a Pan American gold.
Hall is one of the more eccentric and outspoken swimmers to ever represent the red, white, & blue. While competing, he was known for his on-deck antics including walking onto deck in boxing shorts and shadow-boxing before races.
After his first Olympic appearance in 1996, Hall was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes
Hall was born in Cincinnati, and swam in high school at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was part of a run of 30-straight state titles (which could become 31 later today).
Hall of Fame rules say that each class is supposed to have 4 honorees chosen by its Trustees, with 1 additional member voted on by the public. This year’s class has an extra 6th inductee.
2018 Class of Inductees:
- Gary Hall Jr., Swimming
- Jeff Oscarson, high school softball coach
- Mark Grace, professional baseball player
- Mike Candrea, University of Arizona softball coach
- Pat Tillman, football
- Sister Lynn Winsor, high school girls golf coach
I was diagnosed as type 2 last year, my weight was 125kg, my doctor wanted me to start insulin and encouraged a diet with an alarming amount of carbs, so I went to boots and bought a blood sugar tester that I used every day, and started on a Atkins type diet. I.e no carbs….. and when I say no carbs I really mean none. So lots of meats and fish, eggs etc. I also got some useful information here http://mydiabetesway.com/7-steps-to-health-and-the-big-diabetes-lie-review I gradually started loosing weight at a rate of 3kg per month and Im now 94kg, I have never taken insulin and in a few months I will be my target weight. my… Read more »
Good for you.
I hope he wears the boxing trunks and his robe to the induction. He made swimming FUN and interesting. Wonder why it took AZ so long? Congratulations, Champ.
Absolutely! He was a character who at times drove many people crazy. His Mom and Dad hung in there and Gary, JR turned out OK!!
I guess he was are best swimmer in Arizona.I think his father probably got that honor for Cincinnati Ohio and Orange County Ca.
As for the Diabetes yes it a bad disease, recently my mother with type 2 lost her leg. So, I’m glad that Gary Hall Jr has taken up the caused even though he had type I.