Swimming is an amazing sport that every day opens up new champions, people with extraordinary abilities. Some of them sooner or later become legends thanks to their many achievements. One of these athletes is the great Jenny Beth Thompson, whose life and successes will be discussed in this article.
The beginning of a sports career
The future multiple champion of the most prestigious tournament, which takes place only once every four years - the Olympic Games, was born in the very small American city of Danvers (the population of this municipality is about 30 thousand people).
02/26/1973 - the date of birth of the athlete Thompson. Jenny was a very active child since childhood, so her parents, noting the girl’s energy and inclination for sports, sent her to the Sidardale club in the distant state of Florida. There Jennifer studied from seven to twelve years under the guidance of coach Nancy Brennan.
When did the first significant result come to young Thompson? Jenny won two medals at the Pan American Games in 1987: gold at a distance of 50 m by the crawl and bronze in the 100 m freestyle.
These successes determined the athlete's further specialization: she began to compete with other athletes in the rabbit and butterfly.
Achievements
The American swimmer Jenny Thompson won, perhaps, all kinds of medals and titles during her career. It should be noted that the athlete showed the main results that brought her numerous Olympic awards as part of the relay teams. In the individual competition, she has much fewer victories.
In the “sport of high achievements”, the first success was in 1992 at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, where in the 4 x 100 m relay race and the 4 x 100 m combined relay race it was Thompson who won the team. Jenny in these competitions also distinguished herself with “silver” in the 100-meter crawl.
Four years later, in a similar tournament, but already in Atlanta, the athlete won three gold medals, all in the relay at different distances. It should be noted that the swimmer throughout her career performed exclusively at short distances (from 50 to 200 m).
The 2000 Sydney Olympics were especially successful for the American. Three gold medals in the relay, as well as a “bronze” in the 100-meter crawl, replenished her achievement piggy bank.
The last Olympics, in which J. Thompson took part, was held in Athens. There, the athlete managed to win two silver awards, and again as part of the relay team.
In addition to triumphant performances at the main starts of the four-year-old, Jennifer became the world champion 18 times: she managed to win 11 times in the so-called “short water”, and 7 times in the 50-meter pools.
Along with the "legends"
Jenny Thompson, whose photo flew around all the media after numerous medals at various major tournaments, is rightfully considered one of the most titled athletes in the history of the Olympic Games. In her piggy bank there are twelve awards: eight - “the highest standard”, 3 “silver” and 1 bronze medal.
The modern history of the most prestigious tournament knows only 11 athletes who became champions more than eight times. Who overtakes Thompson by the number of gold awards? Jenny is in ninth place on this honorable list. She is outstripped by such great athletes as Michael Phelps (14-time Olympic winner), famous gymnast Larisa Latynina (10-time champion), Paavo Nurmi (Finnish runner, the most titled athlete, 9-time Olympic winner), swimmer Mark Spitz ( as many victories, but fewer Olympics silver medals ), Karl Lewis (9 gold medals, 1 silver), skier Bjorn Daly (8 gold medals), German Birgit Fischer (8-time champion) and sports gymnast Savao Kato, who became the most titled Asian for the entire duration of the Olympic Games (8 gold medals).
Victory Technique
Jenny Thompson could not have shown such high results without constant work on the butterfly and rabbit technique. Bill Boomer, the trainer the athlete worked with, reveals some secrets that help the legendary swimmer make her movements faster and her strokes stronger.
According to the expert, the first thing you need to pay attention to is a breath. It should be part of the movements, without violating the rhythm in which the body works. The next point is to create an impulse that allows you to cover a greater distance with each stroke. The third aspect is the emphasis on hands and body. It is due to them that the main work is carried out, and the legs only help.
Life after retirement
Jenny Thompson shortly after the Athens Olympics completed her professional performances. Many titled athletes become coaches, but the American chose a different path. She received a medical education in 2006 and has since been working as an anesthetist in Boston. The versatility of the champion, of course, can only marvel.