Gary Hall Jr.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:54:18 GMT

Just read an item in our lcal paper on Diabetes by Duncan Crow, his website is very informative. members.shaw.ca/.../

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

swimr4life — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:24:25 GMT

I met Gary at Indianapollis and was very impressed. He was very gracious, generously talking and posing with everyone who asked. His face was probalby sore from all the smiling he did for the camera. He never acted like he didn't WANT to talk and socialize with all of us "older" swimmers. He truly loves our sport and made comments that he hopes he can swim masters for years to come. His hamming it up before his races is all in good fun. I wish the major networks would get to know him a little better and not always talk negatively about him. Yes, he made some mistakes when he was younger but, haven't we all? ;) I'm a big fan!

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

mattson — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 08:13:47 GMT

Originally posted by newmastersswimmer but who exactly is the voice of USMS now? Mark Gill, one of the meet announcers. Two of my (female) team members were sitting very close to the (loud) speakers in the stands. When asked why, they said that Mark has a great voice. ;) (We all thought Gill did a wonderful job, informative and entertaining.)

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:55:12 GMT

That picture of Dan clowning around is hilarious, but look closely at the picture...the only one looking at Dan is Gary; everyone else only has eyes for Gary.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:54:31 GMT

The IM was a best time by 3 seconds. Even better, in my heat I beat the Mouth of Sauron... err, the Voice of USMS. originally posted by Mattson....AKA The Mad Scientist! Nice Middle Earth reference there Mattson.....BTW....this may sound dumb....but who exactly is the voice of USMS now?

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:26:02 GMT

I know someone who has been recently diagnosed with adult onset diabetes. As a former athlete (soccer player) and continually active person, he was very discouraged about his condition. He doesn't feel the same, work out the same, etc. He's seen Gary Jr. swim and was floored when he learned that Gary has diabetes and is able to train and compete at the level that he does. He was even more impressed by Gary's open dialogue about the disease. It has really encouraged him to view his disease differently; it's given him hope.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:25:25 GMT

Thanks, That is a classic series of pictures. I want to post them on my website www.swimsmarter.com so my team is proud of their coach. I don't think anyone else captured the belly moment as well. "This is what is going to beat you. Your gonna feel bad when I win and this is what you lost to..." - My comments as I stuck my belly out to Gary Hall

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:27:16 GMT

Those pictures are great. Can you send them to me personally. my e-mail is (edited out).... All you spammers lay off... All I can say is Gary was lucky I was 8 months pregnant at the time or he would have gone DOWN! Just so everyone knows I was sticking that out, and that is not my belly's natural position. Nothing like having a fat picture of you on the internet, but at least....well...at least...hmmm...?... nevermind. Like I said he was great about it at the end and it was great to see an olympic gold medal winner's feet before I surfaced to even start my race. I have never had my place in the competitive swimming world described so clearly. Ahh Good times, good times... Dan Peck

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

knelson — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:30:18 GMT

Originally posted by Jeff Commings I missed watching a soap star swim? Nooooooooo!!!! You must give us the name! Wally Kurth

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:55:49 GMT

Wow, thanks for the great photos!! This was my favorite race to watch. To me, the photos represent both sides of these Master's swim meets: serious effort and lots of fun.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:19:32 GMT

I was the guy in lane 7 during that heat. They started the heat late because the board read the wrong heat. Gary asked me if this was the right heat because the board was wrong and that is when I realized that he had been seeded into my heat I had a little fun with it. I thought he took it great and seems like a very down to earth guy with a good sense of humor. He seemed very cool during the race "festivities" and shook my hand afterwards. He did only touch me out by a mere 5 seconds. Had I not faded on the last 50 of the race I would have been closer.... However, the delay was to fix the timing board not because of me.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Jeff Commings — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 01:19:57 GMT

I missed watching a soap star swim? Nooooooooo!!!! You must give us the name!

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 14:04:10 GMT

Originally posted by mattson I'll give you a hint: UCLA Bruin Masters. The IM was a best time by 3 seconds. Even better, in my heat I beat the Mouth of Sauron... err, the Voice of USMS. :D (Now back to your regularly scheduled Hall Jr. thread...) Wow, as a fan of that particular soap opera, I knew he swam, but he's actually pretty FAST! And he sure did swim a bunch of stuff. I'm impressed! Congrats on your IM - 3 seconds faster is awesome. :)

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Karen Duggan — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:05:51 GMT

Mark, you're a tease! Now I have to go downstairs and get the meet program- geez... Congratulations on your IM. That's awesome. You know why you beat Mark don't you? He was commentating his own race as he was swimming!!!! :) LOL It was nice to see you again :)

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 08:00:04 GMT

Well, I meet Gary's uncle years ago. He did open lap swimming at a family membership pool own by the Virgo's and I was on there novice team He was a nice personality too. Unforuntately, I don't remeber his name. Gary's father was the first or second swimmer from Orange County to make the olympic team in 1968. He swam for the old Phillps 66 club at the Golden West college pool back in the late 1960's and early 1970's. He moved first to Ohio and later of course to Arizona. I met him the summer of 1972 when I was on the Phillps 66 club. He had a nice personality as well. I think the Halls which have a swim camp in Fl are promoting that and what better way than to go to the masters nationals.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 05:55:19 GMT

I was one of the crowd standing by lane 8 during Gary Hall Jr's 50 fly swim, and it was one of the coolest swims I've ever watched. He had the whole crowd on its feet, and this was the same crowd that was collectively taking a nap about 15 minutes later. (I'm not judging, I did the same. You can only be fascinated by the 200 free so many times...) From my angle, it looked like he already had a good body length lead by the time he surfaced off the start, and he was hardly in a slow heat. The power he gets out of a single stroke -- it's downright astounding to watch in person. Like a few others here, I met him briefly later on, and he was the same down to earth guy that everyone keeps describing. Nothing like his crazy Olympic persona, though I've always suspected that was an act. Was nice to verify that in person though! I should also add that every time I walked by him at the meet, he was smiling or laughing. I think the expression I would use to describe him is "in his element." He was just one of the guys, only a little taller and faster.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

mattson — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 01:21:29 GMT

Originally posted by Karen Duggan Who was that Mark? And how was your IM? I'll give you a hint: UCLA Bruin Masters. The IM was a best time by 3 seconds. Even better, in my heat I beat the Mouth of Sauron... err, the Voice of USMS. :D (Now back to your regularly scheduled Hall Jr. thread...)

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:11:08 GMT

As I was reading my Gary Hall Jr. Barbasol can this AM I noticed that it says nothing about swimming. It mentions that he is a gold medalist and helps kids with diabetes but there is no link to swimming unless you consider every man without a shirt to be a swimmer.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

knelson — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 11:31:00 GMT

Originally posted by Conniekat8 Re: Michael Heather mentoned the meet stoppage... Oh, I think the stoppage was when the guy in lane (I think it was 7) realized it was Gary Hall Jr in lane 8 next to him, and started making cute gestures, something to the effect of, wow, I'm the man, I'm having Gary Hall Jr. swim in a lane next to me, which got the cheering going. I think the officials wanted to take a few minutes to give the crowd a chance to quiet down. Also the display board was still showing heat 23 even though heat 24 had just finished, so I'm sure the officials wanted to make sure the timing system was ready. I was standing by lane 8 with my mom and nephew to see Gary swim. Too bad he was in lane 8, though. All I could see was his start!

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Karen Duggan — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:58:37 GMT

Who was that Mark? And how was your IM?

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

mattson — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:00:19 GMT

That's what I like about Master's meets. On Sunday, I noticed a General Hospital actor (musician, and Emmy winner) getting ready for his races. But almost all the crowd attention was on Hall Jr. :D

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 07:02:07 GMT

Originally posted by knelson Also the display board was still showing heat 23 even though heat 24 had just finished, so I'm sure the officials wanted to make sure the timing system was ready. Oh, that;s right, I forgot about that! I was standing by lane 8 with my mom and nephew to see Gary swim. Too bad he was in lane 8, though. All I could see was his start! Yeah, I was supposed to take some photos of him in that event.... Got his start, then as I managed to run through the crowd at the oter end, I got the finish. Didn't see the actual swim!

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 06:21:59 GMT

Re: Michael Heather mentoned the meet stoppage... Oh, I think the stoppage was when the guy in lane (I think it was 7) realized it was Gary Hall Jr in lane 8 next to him, and started making cute gestures, something to the effect of, wow, I'm the man, I'm having Gary Hall Jr. swim in a lane next to me, which got the cheering going. I think the officials wanted to take a few minutes to give the crowd a chance to quiet down. Flirting Age wise, I'm somewhere in between. I have to say, as much as I like Jr. I'm leaning towards liking Sr. more. He seems like a very classy gentleman, and I love that. But ... eat your heart out Jr. and Sr. My heart belongs to someone else! :p By the way, their club name and a website is: http://www.theraceclub.net/ I think the Race club, and the way Jr and SR. have teamed up, and their philosophy is a wonderful thing for USA and Masters swimming. Some of us here who like to philosophise about all things swimming should read Gary and Gary's aqua notes on the race club's website. There's interesting stuff there!

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 15:36:57 GMT

"The only thing is.... I couldn't decide on is who was cuter or nicer, Gary Hall Jr. or Gary Hall Sr." Connie, I have to go with Gary Hall Sr.; but then I'm 57. Actually, Gary (Sr.) and I were age groupers under Lee Arth, back when he was at Sammy Lee Swim School. (This was 42 years ago!!) Even back then he showed incredible promise. Lee occasionally had us swim with the High school team and Gary Sr. was only 12! I caught up with father and son at the USMS party Friday night and was (again) impressed: good athletes and they really have the family thing happening - lots of joking around and friendly teasing.

RE: Gary Hall Jr.

Former Member — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:48:35 GMT

This morning I picked up my cna pf shving cream & gary Hall, Jr. was smiling down at me. His story was onthe can. Swimming appears in some of the strangest places!