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Biography
When Jenny Thompson retired from swimming after the 2004 Olympics, she left as the most decorated U.S. Olympic swimmer in history with 12 Olympic medals, including eight gold. She was also one of the most respected athletes among her peers after growing up in the sport and ultimately becoming a role model to those coming after her.
During her illustrious career, Jenny led Stanford to four-straight NCAA Championship titles and amassed 26 U.S. national individual titles, dating back to 1987. She made her Olympic debut at the age of 19 at the 1992 Games, collecting two gold and one silver medal. After her third Olympic appearance in 2000, she started medical school at Columbia University, but soon missed being in the water.
Jenny got back into training in 2001, casually at first, but it wasn’t long before her competitive juices were flowing. By the 2001 U.S. Nationals, it was apparent she was destined to make a fourth Olympic team in 2004. Relishing her role as an elder stateswoman on the team, Jenny was able to finish her career feeling like she had given back to the sport that had given so much to her. She won two more medals in Athens, bringing her Olympic medal count to 12 – more than any other U.S. swimmer, male or female.
TRANSCENDING SPORT
While Jenny is an inspiration to countless numbers of children, especially young girls, her personal inspiration came closer to home. She was raised by a single mother, Margrid, who made many sacrifices to give Jenny and her three older brothers opportunities to succeed.
Margrid battled esophageal cancer for years, passing away in February 2004. Jenny kept her mom’s memory close to her heart while competing in her final Olympics later that summer. She appreciates the opportunity her swimming success has given her to raise awareness and funding for cancer research. She has volunteered for Swim Across America, an organization that raises money for cancer research.
Jenny also places great importance on her position as a role model for young girls. She is an Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play, a worldwide humanitarian organization that uses sport and play to build life skills and foster peace for children and communities ravaged by poverty, war and disease. Jenny also serves on the board of her home swim team, Seacoast Swimming Association, and volunteered to promote a new aquarium/ecology learning center in New Hampshire.
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