Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member
Former Member
So, I had the pleasure to hang out with him for quite a while today. I was asked to take a few publicity photos of him, for his dad, Gary Hall Sr. and Rowdy Gaines. I was very pleasantly surprised, Jr. is a very nice and very personable guy. I thought perhaps he'd have a hot shot attitude... Not even close. As I was asking him to make couple poses for the camera, for the publicity, he and he did... and we chuckled about them, he made a comment something to the effect of, about I dunno why people take some of that so negatively, and think I'm a total jerk :( He seemed pretty genuinely bummed out. I was thinking how he is always being asked to pose and do publicity things, and do some showing off or what not, then it turns around and ends up giving him a bad rep. Later on introduced him to a massage therapist friend of mine who works on a lot of pro athletes, to work on him and they can compare notes, and Gary's first response was, oh, that would be so nice but, aren't there people here that need it a lot more then I do, they'll say, what does he need *that for*.... he was all embarrassed, and rather humble about it. He's the kind of a guy that wouldn't squish a bug! I mean literally. As we were sitting and chatting, a June bug landed, he reached for it, and I reacted, oh, no, don't hurt it! Before he had a chance to respond, I realized that he proceeded to check it out and started petting it with one finger, saying hi little guy...
  • Knowing Gary Jr. personally as well, I'll go to bat and say he's a fantastic guy. He is a little humble. what you see on TV is his competitive side. He's a much quieter person. I'm glad people have been able to see him in a different light now. I think some people said the same to me when he and the rest of his Race Club members descended on Indianapolis last year.
  • I thought at the Indy Nationals, he looked like he was just having a good time, not soaking up glory. He was very patient signing autographs taking pictures and such. Nice story Connie.
  • It's nice to read this account. Hopefully it will put to rest those on this forum that have expressed such hostility towards one of our greatest swimmers ever.
  • Sorry, Connie. I talked to him right after the 50 fly, next to the warm down pool. I asked if all of the monkey business before his swim (some kind of stoppage in the meet, don't know if it was because of him or not) helped with his concentration. He responded that if it hadn't been for that, he would have been laughing too hard to swim. Congratulations to a guy who seems genuinely nice.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Originally posted by thisgirl13 Okay, okay, I'll take the swinging bat and stand up: Connie, thanks for posting that. Apparently, I was very wrong in my opinion of GH, Jr, and I apologize (if you'd like me to apologize to Gary, I'd be more than happy. Just point me in his direction, hehe) Uh...First we're gonna have to ask you to put down the bat. :P
  • I have seen him a lot at the Nationals this week, and have avoided approaching him because I don't want to swamp his personal space. I have been working on a short little speech to say, if I get (or take) the chance to shake his hand. How about, "you have about 40,000 fans (Masters swimmers) who want to see you in Beijing in 2008 to defend your title"?
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Gary broke the USMS and World record in the 50 m fly for the 30-34 age group today. I was lucky to be standing next to the lane he was in, so got a great view. It didn't even look like he was working at all and went a 24.91. Since I'm processing all the records for the meet, I made a copy of the record application and asked him to autograph it, which he graciously did, after expressing surprise and reading over the form. This is his first Masters World Record (he set USMS short course yards records at Indy, but there are no SCY world records). Then Connie took a picture of Gary and me.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    (I have always thought he was very cool by the way.) Any meet photos on-line?
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I am glad people are getting to see Gary for who he is and not how the media likes to define who he is. I have the opportunity to swim with his father when he makes the AM workout, and they are class people. We all know there have been many discussions on here about Gary, and Lord knows sometimes he does things that make us all shake our heads. He does a lot for the sport of swimming, but so much more for those people stricken with Diabetes. I still wonder why he doesn't get the atttention he deserves while being stricken with such a difficult illness. We seem to love the stories of someone overcoming major obstacles to become a champion (i.e. Lance Armstrong), Gary seems not to get similar recognition. Please understand, I am not comparing him to Lance, I just think so much more could be learned about Diabetes and how you can overcome so much with the righht treatment and good habits. Hopefully USMS Swimmer will feature Gary soon, this is his first individual world record, and I hope it doesn't go unnoticed.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I will have the meet photos on line probably come Tuesday... I have my hands in so many things that I just can't get to it all... I wish I could! I introduced Gary Hall Sr. and Jr. to Bill Volkening. Gary Hall Senior had some ideas he wanted to share with him. I'm hoping good things will come out of that. Both, Sr. and Jr. were wonderful today to give little personal meet and greet to a number of USMS VIP's, and with public. Patiently hanging around the Race Club booth, giving autographs, taking photos and chatting with people. Gary Jr. broke a masters world record in 50 fly today, and was all tickled pink, if I heard him right this was his first individual world record, not just masters, but overall. I gather he has one in relays in USA swimming, but not an individual. PS. Mike Heather never did go talk to him or meet him... His wife, Julie Heather, our (SPMA) extraordinary registrar did meet Gary Jr., and had him autograph his application for a world record. The only thing is.... I couldn't decide on is who was cuter or nicer, Gary Hall Jr. or Gary Hall Sr. ;) :p :D
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