Hall, Gary W.
Swimming
b. Aug. 7, 1951, Fayetteville, NC
The first swimmer ever to break the 4-minute mark in the 400-yard individual medley, Hall was a member of three U. S. Olympic teams, in 1968, 1972, and 1976. He won a silver in the 400-meter medley event in 1968, as a high school student, and entered Indiana University the following year.
Hall won seven NCAA championships, in the 400-meter medley from 1970 through 1972, the 200-meter medley in 1971 and 1972, the 200-meter backstroke in 1971, and the 200-meter butterfly in 1973.
He was the AAU national outdoor champion in the 200-meter backstroke in 1969, the 200-meter butterfly in 1970, the 200-meter individual medley from 1969 through 1971, and the 400-meter medley from 1968 through 1971. Indoors, Hall won the 200-yard backstroke from 1969 through 1970, the 100-yard butterfly in 1975, the 200-meter butterfly from 1969 through 1971, the 200-yard medley in 1970 and 1972, and the 400-yard medley from 1968 through 1970 and in 1972.
Hall captained the Olympic swim team in 1972, when he won a silver in the 200-meter butterfly, and in 1976, when he won a bronze in the 100-meter butterfly. He was chosen to carry the U. S. flag in the 1976 opening ceremonies.
After graduating from Indiana, Hall attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati and became an ophthalmologist. His son, Gary Jr., won two gold medals and two silver medals at the 2000 Olympics.