Photo of Gary Hall Jr.
Among the best sprint swimmers in the world, Gary Hall Jr. represented the U.S. at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics—winning 5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals during his 16-year professional career. When Hall made the 2004 Olympic team, he and his father, Gary Sr., became the first father-son duo to have made three Olympic teams each (Gary Sr. did it in 1968, 1972, and 1976).
To prepare for international competitions, elite athletes train several hours a day for years. Hall was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March 1999, a year before the Sydney Olympics. Some of his doctors said he’d never be able to swim at a top level again. He later found a doctor who helped him manage the disease and continue high-level swimming. He then went to swim his career best times as a type 1 swimmer.
How did you feel when you were first diagnosed?
Like everyone else, I was devastated by the diagnosis, just reeling, and dealing with the shock and depression and anger. A few months later, I was invited to attend Children’s Congress in Washington DC. It was my first diabetes event, and I got a lot of encouragement from that. I felt like I was making a difference – being in Washington DC and meeting with representatives. I got the feeling that we could all make a difference, and if not find the cure immediately, then at least make for a better life with diabetes. I also testified at the 2005 Children’s Congress. I have remained appreciative to JDRF since those early dark days of my diagnosis.
Was there anything especially meaningful that people did or said to keep you motivated when you were first diagnosed?
We’re never taught in school how to handle a situation like this, and I appreciated everyone’s effort to be supportive. What was inspiring was that a lot of people I knew came forward and said ‘I’ve been living with diabetes for years, I don’t have any complications, and you just have to stay on top of it.’ It was inspiring to me that they were doing so well, given that the technology has come so far.
You’ve been a very vocal advocate for diabetes research, funding, and education since your diagnosis. What’s been the most fulfilling part?
It was prior to the 2000 Olympics and more than a year after my diagnosis. I had qualified for the Olympics and that surprised many people in the world—including me—because of the diabetes. We were at a pool in the training camp in California before the Olympics, and a mother came over with her son trailing behind. He handed me his swim team photograph, and I turned it over and it has his name, his age, and it says type 1 diabetes.
And this is the first person I met with type 1 since qualifying for the Olympic team. I kept that picture with me and took it to Sydney. It represented the diabetes community and the support I had from them. No longer was I just swimming for the United States, but I had this tremendous opportunity to represent the diabetes population. That was so meaningful and inspiring to me, and I think that had a lot to do with why I swam faster post diagnosis. It was all the support I had.
What brought you to Seattle from Miami?
I’m now the director of business development at b2d Marketing in Seattle. b2d Marketing is the exclusive agent for the largest dental network in China. We also have medical marketing, sales, and distribution capabilities in the US. We are beginning to build out medical capabilities in China in June.
I wanted to get involved in the medical side to distribute diabetes products in mainland China—particularly rural China—where diabetes supplies and awareness are very low. Diabetes is a huge problem in China, with a large part of the population still undiagnosed.
China now has the largest number of adults with diabetes in the world at just over 92 million. We won’t be ready to distribute medical products for awhile, though we can begin a timely registration process now through the SFDA (China’s regulatory agency for medical devices, drugs, cosmetics, and food safety), and be ready for distribution by the time product is registered.
We’ll begin the SFDA registration process for medical companies interested in distributing their product in June. This process for a product will take one to three years, depending on the product. Our focus will remain on dentistry (we currently have the largest dental network in China) while we continue to build out our medical distribution capabilities.
How have you transitioned from a very athletic, physical career to working at a desk?
It’s been difficult. I have started to show up to the swimming pool again. I spend more time stretching at the pool than swimming. When I do finally get in it’s never more than a mile. This inconsistent practice has helped a lot. It helps my diabetes management efforts. It reduces stress, which helps my diabetes. It makes me more sensitive to the insulin I have to take, so I require less insulin. And more than anything else, it helps clear my head. It provides some time to reflect on life and work. Though it makes me very tired, I do feel better after having swum- even though it is at such a different level
than what swimming was to me before.
What is your diabetes regimen?
I use an OmniPod now and usually test 5 – 6 times a day. During my swimming career, I used shots and tested 20-25 times during the day of competition. There was no room for fluctuation if it was slightly off. We saw it at the winter Olympics with cross-country skier Kris Freeman, one of the best in the world. He had a bad day and his levels dropped during one of his races. It’s very difficult to do at the elite level, and I feel very fortunate and lucky that I was able to pull it off. And it took a lot of extra effort in the area of diabetes management that the other competitors didn’t have to consider.
You’ve only lived here a few months, but you’ve already been involved with JDRF Northwest.
My family and I attended Beat the Bridge this spring. It was an early morning for the kids. We started out in the 4-mile walk but only made it 2 or 3 miles before returning to the stadium for some bananas and bouncy house activity. JDRF Northwest is one of the strongest chapters in the country, and I intend to be involved on an ongoing basis, as my schedule allows.
Which new type 1 treatments do you think are most promising?
The artificial pancreas is something that makes so much sense. The technology is there and the first models are out, and we’re all so excited to see the second, third, and fourth generation models. This is the future of diabetes management. And even in the years since I’ve been diagnosed, there have been so many improvements in insulin that afford a better quality of life.
What’s your favorite thing to eat during a low?
I always have apple juice with me. I can’t say it’s my favorite – if there’s a cupcake store close by, I could eat a dozen! But the juice does work and it’s easy to carry.
How do you unwind when you’re not working?
It used to be surfing, but now I find comfort in a recliner. I haven’t identified my outlet here in Seattle yet.
Which Northwest recreational activities are you looking forward to trying?
I am really happy to return to snowboarding. I was quite good before moving to Florida nine years ago and replaced snowboarding with surfing. I’ve been boarding since before there were half pipes and parks. I’m satisfied with some trees, some air, good conditions, and no broken bones. I made it up to Stevens Pass once this winter. I’m happy to be back on the snowboard.
What would you say to kids struggling to stay motivated to take care of their diabetes?
You can’t quit or give up. You have to stay with it through the good times and bad times. With diabetes, there will be bad times and days where you want to walk away from it. You just can’t. Burn out is a common and it’s something that we all deal with. I’ve been through it – it comes and goes. But if you take a break for 3 months and then come back motivated, the damage has already been done.
Who are your role models?
I’ve been fortunate because of my accomplishments in swimming to meet interesting people and world leaders in politics, entertainment, and business. Of all the people I’ve met –I’m very inspired when I get a tour of a diabetes research facility, when you go through and see what these people have committed themselves to, looking through a microscope, looking for a cure. I have a very sincere appreciation for the people who are doing that and applying all their resources to finding a cure that would make such a difference in the lives of so many. What a noble effort.
Do you have any advice for kids with T1 who want to get involved in sports or train at elite level?
Go out and have fun—that’s so important at any level. At the Olympic games, I would wear the stars and stripes robe as my way of having fun and making light of one of the most pressure-filled situations for any athlete. The athletes that have fun do well – not the athletes that do well have fun. I believe that you don’t have to be chasing an Olympic gold medal or an NBA title in order to enjoy sports.
If you have fun and focus on what you like in the sport, you can’t lose. Don’t let the dreams of a coach or a parent affect what you love about it. It can be a lot of hard work. But I’m a firm believer that hard work can be a lot of fun. When you realize that, you don’t mind getting through the hard days. We all have days when we don’t want to get out of bed. If you focus on why you like the sport, it makes it a lot easier.
What are the least glamorous aspects of participating in the Olympics?
The whole experience is pretty far from glamorous, with the exception of the medal podium. The housing in the Olympic Village is not glamorous. Bunk beds are not glamorous.
Where do you keep your Olympic medals?
They’re in a moving box, somewhere.
Have you gained any wisdom from having 2 young children?
If two kids provide any wisdom, I’ve missed it due to lack of sleep.
What’s the best advice you ever received from family or friends?
“Relax.”
Olympian Fights Diabetes with Determination, Humor, and the Occasional Cupcake: Q & A with Gary Hall Jr.
Photo of Gary Hall Jr.
Among the best sprint swimmers in the world, Gary Hall Jr. represented the U.S. at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics—winning 5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals during his 16-year professional career. When Hall made the 2004 Olympic team, he and his father, Gary Sr., became the first father-son duo to have made three Olympic teams each (Gary Sr. did it in 1968, 1972, and 1976).
To prepare for international competitions, elite athletes train several hours a day for years. Hall was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March 1999, a year before the Sydney Olympics. Some of his doctors said he’d never be able to swim at a top level again. He later found a doctor who helped him manage the disease and continue high-level swimming. He then went to swim his career best times as a type 1 swimmer.
How did you feel when you were first diagnosed?
Like everyone else, I was devastated by the diagnosis, just reeling, and dealing with the shock and depression and anger. A few months later, I was invited to attend Children’s Congress in Washington DC. It was my first diabetes event, and I got a lot of encouragement from that. I felt like I was making a difference – being in Washington DC and meeting with representatives. I got the feeling that we could all make a difference, and if not find the cure immediately, then at least make for a better life with diabetes. I also testified at the 2005 Children’s Congress. I have remained appreciative to JDRF since those early dark days of my diagnosis.
Was there anything especially meaningful that people did or said to keep you motivated when you were first diagnosed?
We’re never taught in school how to handle a situation like this, and I appreciated everyone’s effort to be supportive. What was inspiring was that a lot of people I knew came forward and said ‘I’ve been living with diabetes for years, I don’t have any complications, and you just have to stay on top of it.’ It was inspiring to me that they were doing so well, given that the technology has come so far.
You’ve been a very vocal advocate for diabetes research, funding, and education since your diagnosis. What’s been the most fulfilling part?
It was prior to the 2000 Olympics and more than a year after my diagnosis. I had qualified for the Olympics and that surprised many people in the world—including me—because of the diabetes. We were at a pool in the training camp in California before the Olympics, and a mother came over with her son trailing behind. He handed me his swim team photograph, and I turned it over and it has his name, his age, and it says type 1 diabetes.
And this is the first person I met with type 1 since qualifying for the Olympic team. I kept that picture with me and took it to Sydney. It represented the diabetes community and the support I had from them. No longer was I just swimming for the United States, but I had this tremendous opportunity to represent the diabetes population. That was so meaningful and inspiring to me, and I think that had a lot to do with why I swam faster post diagnosis. It was all the support I had.
What brought you to Seattle from Miami?
I’m now the director of business development at b2d Marketing in Seattle. b2d Marketing is the exclusive agent for the largest dental network in China. We also have medical marketing, sales, and distribution capabilities in the US. We are beginning to build out medical capabilities in China in June.
I wanted to get involved in the medical side to distribute diabetes products in mainland China—particularly rural China—where diabetes supplies and awareness are very low. Diabetes is a huge problem in China, with a large part of the population still undiagnosed.
China now has the largest number of adults with diabetes in the world at just over 92 million. We won’t be ready to distribute medical products for awhile, though we can begin a timely registration process now through the SFDA (China’s regulatory agency for medical devices, drugs, cosmetics, and food safety), and be ready for distribution by the time product is registered.
We’ll begin the SFDA registration process for medical companies interested in distributing their product in June. This process for a product will take one to three years, depending on the product. Our focus will remain on dentistry (we currently have the largest dental network in China) while we continue to build out our medical distribution capabilities.
How have you transitioned from a very athletic, physical career to working at a desk?
It’s been difficult. I have started to show up to the swimming pool again. I spend more time stretching at the pool than swimming. When I do finally get in it’s never more than a mile. This inconsistent practice has helped a lot. It helps my diabetes management efforts. It reduces stress, which helps my diabetes. It makes me more sensitive to the insulin I have to take, so I require less insulin. And more than anything else, it helps clear my head. It provides some time to reflect on life and work. Though it makes me very tired, I do feel better after having swum- even though it is at such a different level
than what swimming was to me before.
What is your diabetes regimen?
I use an OmniPod now and usually test 5 – 6 times a day. During my swimming career, I used shots and tested 20-25 times during the day of competition. There was no room for fluctuation if it was slightly off. We saw it at the winter Olympics with cross-country skier Kris Freeman, one of the best in the world. He had a bad day and his levels dropped during one of his races. It’s very difficult to do at the elite level, and I feel very fortunate and lucky that I was able to pull it off. And it took a lot of extra effort in the area of diabetes management that the other competitors didn’t have to consider.
You’ve only lived here a few months, but you’ve already been involved with JDRF Northwest.
My family and I attended Beat the Bridge this spring. It was an early morning for the kids. We started out in the 4-mile walk but only made it 2 or 3 miles before returning to the stadium for some bananas and bouncy house activity. JDRF Northwest is one of the strongest chapters in the country, and I intend to be involved on an ongoing basis, as my schedule allows.
Which new type 1 treatments do you think are most promising?
The artificial pancreas is something that makes so much sense. The technology is there and the first models are out, and we’re all so excited to see the second, third, and fourth generation models. This is the future of diabetes management. And even in the years since I’ve been diagnosed, there have been so many improvements in insulin that afford a better quality of life.
What’s your favorite thing to eat during a low?
I always have apple juice with me. I can’t say it’s my favorite – if there’s a cupcake store close by, I could eat a dozen! But the juice does work and it’s easy to carry.
How do you unwind when you’re not working?
It used to be surfing, but now I find comfort in a recliner. I haven’t identified my outlet here in Seattle yet.
Which Northwest recreational activities are you looking forward to trying?
I am really happy to return to snowboarding. I was quite good before moving to Florida nine years ago and replaced snowboarding with surfing. I’ve been boarding since before there were half pipes and parks. I’m satisfied with some trees, some air, good conditions, and no broken bones. I made it up to Stevens Pass once this winter. I’m happy to be back on the snowboard.
What would you say to kids struggling to stay motivated to take care of their diabetes?
You can’t quit or give up. You have to stay with it through the good times and bad times. With diabetes, there will be bad times and days where you want to walk away from it. You just can’t. Burn out is a common and it’s something that we all deal with. I’ve been through it – it comes and goes. But if you take a break for 3 months and then come back motivated, the damage has already been done.
Who are your role models?
I’ve been fortunate because of my accomplishments in swimming to meet interesting people and world leaders in politics, entertainment, and business. Of all the people I’ve met –I’m very inspired when I get a tour of a diabetes research facility, when you go through and see what these people have committed themselves to, looking through a microscope, looking for a cure. I have a very sincere appreciation for the people who are doing that and applying all their resources to finding a cure that would make such a difference in the lives of so many. What a noble effort.
Do you have any advice for kids with T1 who want to get involved in sports or train at elite level?
Go out and have fun—that’s so important at any level. At the Olympic games, I would wear the stars and stripes robe as my way of having fun and making light of one of the most pressure-filled situations for any athlete. The athletes that have fun do well – not the athletes that do well have fun. I believe that you don’t have to be chasing an Olympic gold medal or an NBA title in order to enjoy sports.
If you have fun and focus on what you like in the sport, you can’t lose. Don’t let the dreams of a coach or a parent affect what you love about it. It can be a lot of hard work. But I’m a firm believer that hard work can be a lot of fun. When you realize that, you don’t mind getting through the hard days. We all have days when we don’t want to get out of bed. If you focus on why you like the sport, it makes it a lot easier.
What are the least glamorous aspects of participating in the Olympics?
The whole experience is pretty far from glamorous, with the exception of the medal podium. The housing in the Olympic Village is not glamorous. Bunk beds are not glamorous.
Where do you keep your Olympic medals?
They’re in a moving box, somewhere.
Have you gained any wisdom from having 2 young children?
If two kids provide any wisdom, I’ve missed it due to lack of sleep.
What’s the best advice you ever received from family or friends?
“Relax.”