During his extraordinary career in the pool, U.S. freestyle swimmer Gary Hall Jr. won 10 Olympic medals (5 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze).

He competed in his first Olympics at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and won two silver medals in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle events.

In 1999, Hall was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, but went on to set an American record at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and take gold in the 50 m freestyle and 4x100 m medley relay at the 2000 Sydney Games.

He later qualified for the 2004 Athens Games and repeated as the 50 m freestyle champion.

He'll be in Seattle this week as part of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships which take place March 22-24 at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way. He will sign autographs Thursday from 5:45-6:45 p.m. and also present the award for the 50 m freestyle champion.

Hall talked about his legendary swimming career, his memorable Olympic experiences and much more in a live chat March 20 on seattletimes.com.