Kamali Thompson

Last updated
Kamali Thompson
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1991-12-11) December 11, 1991 (age 31)
Los Angeles, California
Home town Teaneck, New Jersey
EducationBSc, Temple University
MD, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Height5'7
Relatives Khalil (brother)
Website kamalithompson.com
Sport
Sport Fencing
Event(s)Saber
College team Temple Owls

Kamali Thompson (born December 11, 1991) is an American fencer and doctor.

Contents

Early life

Thompson was born on December 11, 1991, in Los Angeles, California but was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. [1] Growing up in New Jersey, Thompson originally was a dancer and began Teaneck High School at the age of 12. [2] [3] While watching a fencing demonstration at the school, she was encouraged to learn the sport to gain a greater chance at a college scholarship. [3] She subsequently began fencing during her freshman year and eventually joined the schools team as a junior. [4] Prior to her junior year, Thompson entered a statewide fencing competition where she finished ninth. Following this, she was encouraged to join a fencing club in New York called the Peter Westbrook Foundation. [5] Throughout her high school career, Thompson helped the fencing team finish second in districts, second in the state, and win the Passaic League Championship. She also earned first-team all-county and third-team all-state honors. [6] As she continued to fence, her younger brother Khalil also took up the sport so he would not have to sit on the sidelines during her practices. [7]

Following high school, Thompson enrolled in the Pre-medical degree as part of her biology program at Temple University. She continued to compete in fencing under head coach Nikki Franke and was a two-time winner of Temple's PNC Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She also earned All-American Honors and was a four-time NCAA Qualifier. [8] During her senior year, Thompson was named Philadelphia Inquirer Performer of the Year and nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year. [9]

Career

Upon graduating from Temple University, Thompson enrolled at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School for the 2013 academic year. [9] During her first year in medical school, she helped lead Team USA to a fourth-place finish in Women's Sabre at the 2013 World University Games. [10] Throughout her medical school career, she also established a blog, Saber & A Stethoscope, to document her educational endeavors, travel, and fitness. [4] In 2016, Thompson narrowly missed qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics by placing sixth overall. Following this, she won the Division 1 Women's Sabre National Championship title. [11]

In 2019, Thompson was ranked third overall as she helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the Salt Lake City North American Cup. [12] As such, she was named an alternate for the national team. Thompson trained at the Peter Westbrook Foundation. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Kamali Thompson". Team USA Fencing. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ Christie, Julie. "Former Owl embarking on Olympic journey 2012 graduate Kamali Thompson is attempting to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.", The Temple News , February 16, 2016. Accessed February 8, 2022. "Along with every first- and second-year fencer in New Jersey, Kamali Thompson competed at Freshman, Sophomores in February 2005. In her first year of the sport, the then-freshman at Teaneck High School watched her teammate finish third at the annual competition."
  3. 1 2 Brooks, Senita (October 19, 2021). "Kamali Thompson Is a Modern-Day Superwoman". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "OLYMPIC FENCER KAMALI THOMPSON IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING A SURGEON". BOTWC. January 3, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ Cole, Damichael (December 29, 2019). "Rutgers medical student and former Temple fencing star is closing in on an Olympic spot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Kamali Thompson". Temple University. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  7. ↑ Politi, Steve (January 24, 2020). "Meet the NJ siblings conquering the odds – and Rutgers med school – to chase Olympic fencing gold". nj.com. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ Jordan, Atiya (December 23, 2021). "MEET KAMALI THOMPSON, OLYMPIC FENCER AND ASPIRING ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON". Black Enterprise. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "THOMPSON NOMINATED FOR NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD". Temple University. July 30, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ "FORMER FENCING STANDOUT KAMALI THOMPSON COMPETES FOR THE USA AT THE 2013 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES". Temple University. July 18, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Fencing Alum Kamali Thompson Wins National Championship in Sabre". Temple University. April 13, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Doby, Jerry (December 23, 2019). "National Fencing Champion Kamali Thompson Now Ranked 3rd in U.S." The Hype Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ Ayala, Victoria (June 19, 2021). "Former Temple fencer prepares for Tokyo Olympics". Temple University. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
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