21 Facts About Jenny Thompson

Jennifer Beth Thompson was born on February 26,1973 and is an American former competition swimmer and anesthesiologist.

Jenny Thompson is one of the most decorated Olympians in history: twelve medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992,1996,2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.

Jenny Thompson first appeared on the international scene as a 14-year-old in 1987, when she won the 50-meter freestyle and placed third in the 100-meter freestyle at the Pan American Games.

Jenny Thompson attended Stanford University, and swam for the Stanford Cardinal swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association and Pacific-10 Conference competition.

In 2006, Jenny Thompson received a medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed a residency in anesthesiology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and then a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology at Children's Hospital of Boston.

Jenny Thompson continued her career as a member of the US national team and a member of the Stanford University swimming team, and continued to rank among the world's best swimmers for the next four years.

Jenny Thompson competed as a member of the USA Finswimming Team at the 8th World Championship held in Hungary during August 1996.

Jenny Thompson had a poor performance at the 1996 Olympic Trials which kept her from qualifying in her individual events.

Between 1997 and 1999, Jenny Thompson won eight more world championship titles, including three in a row in the 100-meter freestyle.

Jenny Thompson seemingly retired from competition after the 2000 season with 10 Olympic medals, eight gold, one silver and one bronze, and 12 gold medals at World Championships.

In 2001, Jenny Thompson moved to New York City to begin studying at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Jenny Thompson won five medals in two days, setting a career-best time in winning the 50-meter freestyle.

At age 31, Jenny Thompson was the oldest member of the 2004 US Swimming and Diving team, competing in her fourth Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Jenny Thompson was the anchor member of the 400-meter freestyle relay, where she contributed to a national record of 3:36.39 and a silver medal.

In 2006, Jenny Thompson received a medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Jenny Thompson did her internship at the New York City Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and residency anesthesiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Jenny Thompson has volunteered as a celebrity swimmer for Swim Across America, a charitable organization that raises money for cancer research, since 1995.

Jenny Thompson was the 1993 and 1998 USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year, and ranked as the 62nd greatest female athlete of all time in a 1999 poll conducted by Sports Illustrated.

Jenny Thompson was named by Swimming World Magazine as the Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1998, and as Female American Swimmer of the Year in 1993,1998 and 1999.

Jenny Thompson was the Women's Sports Foundation's Athlete of the Year in 2000.

Jenny Thompson's adopted hometown of Dover, New Hampshire has a public swimming pool named in her honor.