LOS ANGELES, Jan 12 (Bernama-dpa) -- Former swimmer Gary Hall Jr will have the Olympic medals that were destroyed in the devastating fires in Los Angeles replaced, according to German news agency dpa.
"We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces," International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said in a statement on Sunday.
"We have also learned that a great Olympian, Gary Hall Jr, has lost his medals in the fire. The IOC will provide him with replicas."
The 50-year-old American had to evacuate his house and the building subsequently burned down.
He did not have enough time to take his medals. He won gold five times, silver three times and bronze twice between 1996 and 2004.
At least 16 people have died in the fires in the second biggest city of the US.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
