Gary Hall is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. He competed at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Hall was renowned for his duel with Alexander Popov in the sprint freestyle. At his first Olympics in 1996, he and his teammates dominated the relay races, with Popov beating him in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle.
Sydney 2000 turned to be a most crucial moment in Hall's competitive swimming career. He continued his success by tying with Anthony Ervin for the gold in the 50 metres freestyle. He also swam the last leg in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay against the home favorite Ian Thorpe. He led almost the entire leg of the race until Thorpe passed him to touch the wall first for the Australians with a new world record time (3:13.67), leaving Hall and the rest of the U.S. men's team with a silver. In the 4x100 metres medley relay, he and the U.S. men's team of Lenny Krayzelburg, Ed Moses, and Ian Crocker put together a blazing finish of 3:33.73 to lower their own world record and defend their title.
Hall became the oldest male swimmer of the U.S. team, aged 29, when he competed at his third Games in 2004. There, he contributed to the Americans' bronze medal feat in the men's 4x100 metres freestyle relay by swimming through the last leg in the heats. He also managed to defend his title in the 50 metres freestyle with a time of 21.93.
Hall attempted to qualify for his fourth U.S. team in 2008 but finished outside the top three at the trials, ending his Olympic career with a medal haul of ten (five golds, three silver, and two bronze).
His father Gary Hall Sr. won a medal each in three separate editions, while his maternal uncle Charles Keating III swam in the men's 200 metres breaststroke at Montreal 1976.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Men's 50m freestyle | 
|
| Men's 100m freestyle |
| |
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay | 
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2000 | Men's 50m freestyle |
|
| Men's 100m freestyle | 
| |
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay |
| |
| Men's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2004 | Men's 50m freestyle |
|
| Men's 4x100m freestyle relay |
|
1996[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 22.36 | |
| A Final | 22.26 | ||
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 48.90 | |
| A Final | 48.81 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:18.40 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:15.41 (47.45 split) |
OR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:39.93 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:34.84 (48.18 split) |
WR |
2000[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 22.14 | |
| Semifinal | 22.07 | ||
| Final | 21.98 | ||
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 49.32 | |
| Semifinal | 49.13 | ||
| Final | 48.73 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:15.43 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:13.86 (48.24 split) |
AR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:38.59 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:33.73 (47.92 split) |
WR |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 22.04 |
| Semifinal | 22.18 | |
| Final | 21.93 | |
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:15.83 (48.73 split) |
| Final | 3:14.62 (Reserve) |