David Walters, former University of Texas A swimmer, he made headlines in 2008 after earning a gold medal for Team USA during the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Nearly two decades later, his name popped up again, but for a very different reason.
Walters, who has been a Los Angeles firefighter for nearly 10 years, is one of more than 7,500 fire and emergency personnel working to contain the blaze. Devastating forest fires raging across Southern California this week.
FILE – (LR) Eric Wendt, Ricky Behrens and David Walters of the United States cheer on Clemente Keeler in Japan's men's 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay held at the National Aquatics Center on the fourth day of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August January 12, 2008 in Beijing, China. Team USA won the race in a time of 7:04.66, a new Olympic record. (Jed Jacobson/Getty Images)
The former Olympian recently spoke to Nation News About his devastation when he finished his shift two days in a row, according to the outlet.
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“We're pretty much trying to keep what's left here standing,” an exhausted Walters said. “So, we don't lie down. We stay in position—that's right, I slept on the hose bed last night, just keeping myself ready to do what we can still do.”
FILE – David Walters of the United States competes in the men's 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay held at the National Aquatics Center on day four of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 12, 2008, in Beijing, China. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
At least 10 people have died as a result of multiple bushfires, while thousands have evacuated their homes. About 10,000 structures burned from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena as strong winds continued to fan the fires.
The largest fire in the Pacific Palisades area began Tuesday, and officials said Thursday evening that the fire was 6% contained.
“I'm so sorry for the residents who live here,” Walters continued.
Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills area of Los Angeles, Thursday, January 9, 2025. (Ethan Swope/AP)
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“We did our best, but we got our asses kicked. We're getting some rest now, and we're all trying to improve our nutrition and health so we can stay active.”
Walters (37 years old) won the gold medal in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay, setting the then Olympic record with a time of 7:04.66. It was just him Olympic appearance. That same year, he won his first individual NCAA title in the men's 200-meter freestyle.
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