Jenny Thompson is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. She competed at the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Thompson was expected to win five golds at her Olympic debut in 1992, but she withdrew from the B-final of the 200 metres freestyle, placed fifth in the 50, and lost the gold to Zhuang Yong by two tenths of a second (0.2) in the 100. She avenged her triple losses to help the American women reclaim their title in the 4x100 metres freestyle and medley relays. Four years later in Atlanta, Thompson added three more golds to her medal haul as part of the U.S. women's team in all relay races, including the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.
At her third Olympics in 2000, Thompson shared a bronze with Dara Torres in the 100 metres freestyle with a matching 54.63. She helped the U.S. women's team put together a stellar time of 3:36.61 to capture the gold in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, shaving off China's 1994 world record by 1.3 seconds. With this feat, Thompson tied with Kristin Otto for the most golds by a woman at six.
When she touched out the home favorite Petria Thomas on the last leg of the 4x200 metres freestyle relay by 0.7 seconds, she and her teammates Samantha Arsenault, Diana Munz, and Lindsay Benko scored a gold with an Olympic record time (7:57.80). As the Americans celebrated their victory, Thompson picked up her ninth career medal to break a tie with Otto for the most golds at seven and maintain her role as the most decorated female swimmer of all-time. She also swam through the butterfly leg to end her third Games with an eighth gold and tenth overall of her career haul as a member of the U.S. women's 4x100 metres medley relay team.
Thompson became the oldest member of the U.S. swimming team when she competed for her fourth Games in 2004. She added two more silver to her career haul as an anchor swimmer of the U.S. women's team in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay and as a freestyle swimmer in the 4x100 metres medley relay. Thompson closed out her Olympic career as the most decorated female swimmer in history with a total of twelve medals. Her record of eight golds was the most for any female Olympic swimmer in history.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Women's 50m freestyle | 5th |
| Women's 100m freestyle | 
| |
| Women's 200m freestyle | 17th | |
| Women's 4x100m freestyle relay | 
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 1996 | Women's 4x100m freestyle relay |
|
| Women's 4x200m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2000 | Women's 100m freestyle | 
|
| Women's 100m butterfly | 5th | |
| Women's 4x100m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x200m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
| |
| 2004 | Women's 50m freestyle | 7th |
| Women's 100m butterfly | 5th | |
| Women's 4x100m freestyle relay |
| |
| Women's 4x100m medley relay |
|
1992[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 25.63 | |
| A Final | 25.37 | ||
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 54.69 | OR |
| A Final | 54.84 | ||
| 200 metres freestyle | Heats | 2:01.71 | |
| B Final | Template:DNS | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:41.57 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:39.46 (54.01 split) |
WR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:10.83 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 4:02.54 (54.47 split) |
WR | |
1996[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:42.36 (55.04 split) |
|
| Final | 3:39.29 (54.11 split) |
OR | |
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 8:04.99 (Reserve) |
OR |
| Final | 7:59.87 (2:00.01 split) |
OR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:05.80 (58.53 split) |
|
| Final | 4:02.88 (Reserve) |
2000[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 metres freestyle | Heats | 55.22 | |
| Semifinal | 54.40 | ||
| Final | 54.63 | ||
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 57.66 | AR |
| Semifinal | 58.18 | ||
| Final | 58.73 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:40.88 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:36.61 (53.62 split) |
WR | |
| 4x200 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 8:01.69 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 7:57.80 (1:59.35 split) |
OR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:06.16 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:58.30 (57.25 split) |
WR |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 metres freestyle | Heats | 25.50 | |
| Semifinal | 25.17 | ||
| Final | 25.11 | ||
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 58.77 | |
| Semifinal | 58.91 | ||
| Final | 58.72 | ||
| 4x100 metres freestyle relay | Heats | 3:39.46 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:36.39 (53.77 split) |
AR | |
| 4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 4:02.82 (Reserve) |
|
| Final | 3:59.12 (58.81 split) |