Vital stats
Age: 31
Height/weight: 5-10, 160
Lives in: New York, N.Y.
Today’s event
It’s the women’s 50-meter freestyle on NBC from 7 to 11 p.m.
Day job
Thompson took almost two years off after the 2000 Olympics to attend Columbia University’s medical school, and she has continued her studies while she has been in training.
Olympic experience
She’s the most decorated U.S. female Olympian of all-time with 10 medals (eight gold) from 1992, 1996, 2000.
Background
In her four years at Stanford University, the school won every single dual meet, conference championship and NCAA title. But in college, she broke her arm on a homemade water slide at a fraternity house. Two weeks later, Thompson won the 100-meter freestyle title at the national championships in Indianapolis with a titanium plate and seven screws in her arm.
Early days
When she was 5 months old, her older brothers would take her swimming with them.
Did you know?
The New Hampshire pool where she learned to swim was renamed the Jenny Thompson Competition Pool at Guppy Park after the 1996 Olympics.
Post-Olympic star potential
She’s the first lady of swimming and could become the first Olympian in any sport to win 10 gold medals.
Star power: 10 out of 10.
In the booth Women’s swimming broadcasters
Craig Hummer: The L.A. County lifeguard has won more lifeguard ocean competitions than anyone.
Dara Torres: Won the bronze in 2000, she’s now a broadcaster and a spokeswoman for Tae-Bo workout videotapes.
2000 medalists
Women’s 50 freestyle
Gold: Inge de Bruijn, Netherlands
Silver: Therese Alshammar, Sweden
Bronze: Dara Torres, U.S.
