What does Jenny Thompson do now? All about the eight-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer's pursuits after retirement

By Janhavi Shinde

Modified Aug 01, 2024 04:33 GMT

Jenny Thompson is a former American swimmer who secured 12 Olympic medals from four editions of the Games. Even years after her retirement, she remains deeply connected to the sport by engaging in charitable endeavors while also serving as an anesthesiologist.

Thompson has eight gold, three silver, and one bronze Olympic medal under her belt, which she bagged between the 1992 Barcelona to 2004 Athens Games. In her debut Olympics, she secured two gold medals in the relay events in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley events. Further, she also secured a silver medal in the 100m freestyle event.

After initially stepping back from the Games following the 2000 Sydney Games, Thompson officially retired after competing in the 2004 Athens Games. Following her retirement from swimming, she pursued a medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After completing her residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, she currently serves as the anesthesiologist for the Spectrum Medical group at the Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The former Olympian has remained intimately connected to her beloved sport which is evident from her philanthropic efforts. For nearly three decades, Thompson has been a steadfast volunteer as a celebrity swimmer for Swim Across America, which raises money for cancer research.

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Katie Ledecky equaled Thompson's record of earning 8 Olympic gold medals after her victory in the 1500m freestyle event.

Jenny Thompson enjoyed a successful run at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics

Jenny Thompson along with her teammates Angel Martino, Catherine Fox, and Amy Van Dyken celebrate their victory in the Women's 4x100 meter freestyle relay race during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Getty Images)

Jenny Thompson's accounts of earning relay team medals in the 1992 Games remained the same at the Atlanta Games. She secured three gold medals along with the team in the 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley relay events.

Three years later, at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, along with securing three gold medals in the same events, she went on to secure a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle event. After keeping herself away from the sport, she chose to pursue the 2004 Athens Games, where the former swimmer concluded her career with two Olympic silver medals in 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay events.

She deeply cherishes the Olympic Games, proof of this was seen during the 2012 London Olympics, which she attended while she was 30 weeks pregnant.