Thompson bows out as top swim medal winner

By MARIBEL VILLALVA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - When Jenny Thompson pulled herself out of the water at the Olympic Aquatics Center Saturday, it was the last time she would do so as an Olympic competitor.

Though she failed to add another gold to her impressive haul, the silver medal acquired in the 4x100-meter medley relay gives her 12 medals in her illustrious career.

It was not a bad way to go - as the most decorated swimmer in Olympic history.

Thompson swam twice on Saturday, placing seventh in the 50 freestyle, then swimming the butterfly leg on Team USA's silver-medal team. But even as she broke a tie with Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi for most Olympic medals by a swimmer, she had to share the spotlight with the Australian relay team, which won the event in record time.

Thompson, 31, confirmed that is was her last Olympics as she prepares to return to Columbia to finish medical school.

``Tonight was bittersweet because it was my last Olympics. I felt nostalgic the whole time,'' said Thompson, still wearing the olive branch crown on her head.

``This whole week, I've tried to soak up as much as possible. I had hoped for better results (in the individual events), but I'm proud to be here.''

Thompson ends her career with eight golds, all achieved in relays; three silvers (two relay medals from Athens and an individual medal from the 100 freestyle at Barcelona in 1992); and one bronze (100 freestyle at Sydney).

``I have always said that it's not the medal count that is important, but rather, my love for the sport,'' Thompson said. ``Now that this is coming to a close, I need to step back and appreciate what those medals represent and all the wonderful people I've met.''

One person who was not in the stands was Thompson's mother, Margrid Thompson, who died of cancer in February.

``It was a little hard because this was my first Olympics without my mother,'' she said.

Inge de Bruijn defended her gold in the 50 freestyle in 24.58 seconds. Thompson was seventh in 25.11, and teammate Kara Lynn Joyce was fifth in 25.00.

In the medley relay category, the Australians deprived Thompson of a ninth gold by winning in a world-record time of 3:57.32. The U.S. was second in 3:59.12.