Jenny Thompson was the most decorated U.S. Olympian following her swimming career in the 2004 Olympic Games. She has 12 Olympic medals, eight gold, three silver, and one bronze, only throughout three Olympiads.
During the 1990s, Jenny was considered the most dominant American woman in swimming. In 1998, she was named the “Female World Swimmer of the Year.“
Also, Thompson is known for longevity in her career. She competed in Olympics as one of the youngest champions to one of the oldest. In the 2000 Athens Olympics, Jenny was the eldest member.
After winning four medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Thompson began medical study at Columbia University.
But in 2004, she took a year off from medical college to compete in Athens Olympic Games and got significant medals in the game.
But, her career has been filled with many dramatic chapters, including medal-winning performances in relay events at three Olympic games but failing to win an individual Olympic gold medal.
This article will discover her early life & education, professional career, age, height, weight, net worth, and more.
Jenny Thompson: Quick Facts
But before that, let’s take a look at the quick facts about Jenny.
| Full Name | Jennifer Beth Thompson |
| Common Name | Jenny Thompson |
| Birth Date | February 26, 1973 |
| Birth Place | Danvers, Massachusetts, USA |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| High School | Unknown |
| University |
|
| Father’s Name | Philip B. Thompson |
| Mother’s Name | Margrid J. Thompson |
| Siblings | Three Older Brothers |
| Residence | Daniel Island |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Age | 49 Years Old |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Weight | 68 kg |
| Build | Athletic |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Profession |
|
| Strokes | Freestyle, Medley, Butterfly |
| Olympic Debut | 1992 |
| Club | Seacoast Swimming Association, Stanford Cardinal, Badger Swim Club |
| Retirement | 2004 |
| Medals | Eight Gold Olympic Medals |
| National Team | USA |
| Memorable Title | World Swimmer of the Year (1998) |
| Marital Status | Married since 2010 |
| Husband | Daniel Richard Cumpeli |
| Children | Two sons |
| Net Worth | $19 Million |
| Endorsements | Speedo, Envion |
| Social Media | None |
| Merch | Book (Fast Lane to Victory) |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Early Childhood & Education with Jenny Thompson
On February 26, 1973, Jenny was born in Denver, Massachusetts, to the late Margrid J. Thompson and the late Philip B. Thompson.
Her mother is from Dover, New Hampshire, while her father is from Georgetown, Massachusetts. Medical technologists at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts, included Jenny’s mother.
She began swimming at the Groveland summer country club of Cedarvale in her native New Hampshire when she was seven years old. She practiced swimming at the Danvers YMNC from the age of eight to ten, and the Andover-North Andover YMNC from the age of ten to twelve.
Thompson started swimming for Seacoast Swimming Association when she was 12 years old. Her coaches were Amy and Mike Parratto.
After that, Margrid relocated to New Hampshire with Jenny and her three older brothers in order to train with a renowned coach who helped her develop into one of the greatest swimmers in history.
Jenny’s most vocal supporter, Margrid, would show up to all of her competitions. She was a really upbeat individual who encouraged her children in their interests. Regrettably, Margrid passed away from cancer in 2004.
Education
In 1991, Jenny Thompson received a scholarship to attend Stanford University. She not only participated in swimming but also obtained a degree in human biology from the university.
Thompson, an all-around brilliant student, entered at Columbia University’s medical school in 2001. The 5 foot 10 inch swimmer started juggling medical school workloads with training and competitions.
She obtained her anesthesiologist degree from medical school in 2006 after graduating.
How old, tall, and how much weight is Jenny Thompson?
Jenny is 49 years old right now. Every February 26th, she has a birthday party. She is a Pisces, one of the signs of the zodiac. Thompson is 68 kilograms, or around 5 feet 10 inches, tall.
Thompson is built athletically, and even at the age of 49, she appears to be in excellent shape. Her lovely blue eyes and dark brown hair are still charming, and she is aging gracefully.
Career
Thompson won the 50-meter freestyle gold medal in the Pan American Games in 1987 at the young age of 14.
Jenny thereafter had a reputation for being speedy and strong. She set a new world record for the 100-meter freestyle in the early 1990s with a timing of 54.48.
In addition, Jenny set a record by winning six gold medals at the Pan-Pacific Championships in 1993. She raced at the World Championships in 1994 despite having a broken ankle, helping the United States relay teams to two silver and one bronze.
One of swimming’s most cherished records, held by Mary T. Meagher for 18 years in the 100-meter butterfly, was broken by Thompson in 1999.
Jenny demonstrated her abilities despite having a year break from swimming by winning the women’s 50-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacifics in 2002. She had just turned 29 years old.
Career in College
She later competed for the Stanford Cardinal swimming and diving team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association while attending Stanford University (NCAA). She competed in swimming during her time at the university in the Pacific-10 Conference.
As a member of the Stanford University swim team, she won 26 NCAA crowns in addition to 23 national championships.
Jenny wanted her time at Stanford University (from 1992 to 1995) to be more than just a swimming experience, so she obtained a scholarship and graduated with a degree in human biology.
the Olympics
Jenny won gold medals both the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter medley relay at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
Jenny was chosen for relay events in the USA Olympic trials but was not qualified for any individual events during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
She took part in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle relays. In addition to winning, both teams also achieved new Olympic marks.
Her accomplishments at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 carried over into the following year. As a member of the 100-meter medley, 100-meter freestyle, and 800-meter freestyle relays, she once more broke records and won gold medals.
Also read Jabari Parker Career
Jenny, who was competing in her fourth Olympic Games in Athens, was the team’s oldest member. Thompson set a new American record and won silver in the process.
As a member of the 100-meter medley relay team, she also took home a second silver medal.
The top 12 NASCAR drivers in the world are listed here! Although Richard Petty currently tops the list of the greatest NASCAR drivers, someday another legend will overtake him. discover who?
Choosing an anesthesiology career
The 12-medal haul from her 12 Olympic swimming competitions is kept a secret by the former four-time Olympian turned anesthesiologist.
At the moment, Jenny assists patients at Charleston’s V.A. Medical Center as an anesthesiologist. She entirely turned to her second interest of providing healthcare after retiring, though.
She had remarked that a swimmer who specialized in shorter races would fit the image because of how sensitively she helped patients during surgery.
As an anesthesiologist at the V.A. Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, Thompson was likewise on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus last year.
Awards and Successes
Thompson has frequently stated that winning medals was never the focus of her swimming career. She preferred the trials of figuring out how to improve the performances.
Her passion for international travel served as another driving force behind her pursuit of accolades and medals. She also participated in the Summer Olympics in Athens (2004), Sydney (2000), Atlanta (1996), and Barcelona (1992). (2004).
In her swimming career, Jenny set 15 world records and won 31 World Championships.
Jenny took part in four Olympic competitions from 1992 to 2004. In addition, she established 15 world records, the majority of them in single events.
She was named “USA Swimming of the Year” in 1993 and 1998, and in a 1999 Sports Illustrated poll, she was chosen as the 62nd greatest female athlete of all time.
In 1993, 1998, and 1999, she was recognized as the “Female Swimmer of the Year.” She also won the title of “Athlete of the Year” from the Sports Foundation in 2000.
Jenny Thompson: Spouse and kids
At Hammond Castle in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Jenny wed businessman Daniel Richard Cumpelik in September 2010.
She had just finished her anesthesiology residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston when she got married. She was 37 years old at the time.
And She relocated to Daniel Island in 2018 with her husband, Daniel Cumpelik, and kids, Benji and Ryder, after serving in Maine for a number of years.
Sadly, there are currently no additional information regarding her personal life available.
What is Jenny Thompson’s annual salary?
Jenny has made $1 million in her career while experiencing remarkable success. Her swimming career is the main contributor to her net worth.
She continues to rank among the top ten richest swimmers of all time. Additionally, Thompson won a total of 12 medals, eight of which were gold, and by earning those gold medals, he was paid $100,000.
The Olympic Committee awards athletes a specified sum of money if they bring home gold, silver, or bronze at the Olympics.
Jenny had endorsement agreements with Speedo and the vitamin brand Envion at the height of her fame, in addition to several sponsorship agreements.
She had created a national advertising campaign for Jansport’s water-resistant bags. She also appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair’s book honoring the Olympics.
Social Media Presence
After retirement from swimming, Jenny Thompson started her new phase of life as medical personnel. Currently, she lives an everyday life out of the limelight with her husband and sons.
Thus, she is not present on any social media platforms.
But in media outlets, her life is heard time to time. Since she was such an iconic swimmer during the 1990s, it’s not possible to forget about her.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the relationship between Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres?
Both Jenny and Dara were considered top swimmers representing the USA in the Olympics during their active swimming careers.
Thus, these two had several intriguing storylines, like one breaking record made by another and fighting for the first position.
They had competed for face to face several times, challenging each other in ways that captivated the swimming fans.