Jeanette Thompson

U.S. Army veteran Jeanette Thompson was introduced to the throwing events at a USOC Paralympic Military Sports Camp in Rhode Island in 2009. She is now a member of Team USA and will be competing at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand in January.

Thompson is also working toward qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and hoping to compete in London. In order to be in the best shape possible she maintains an intense training schedule and she practices with fellow veteran and 2012 Paralympic hopeful, Scott Winkler.

Thompson said that making the U.S. Paralympic Team would be extremely significant. “I would be able to show other injured veterans and children in my community that they can be anything in life no matter what happens. Sport was the biggest part of my rehab after being retired from the Army after my injury.”

Thompson was injured while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and suffered partial paralysis of her legs.  She attended Sierra High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Major Achievements:

• 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships Team Member
• 2010: First place, Discus Throw F58, Javelin Throw F58, Shot Put F58 – U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships, Miramar, Florida
• 2010: First place, Shot Put F57, Discus Throw F57, Javelin Throw F57 – Desert Challenge, Mesa, Arizona
• 2010: First Place, Shot Put F57, Discus Throw F57, Javelin Throw F57 – Endeavor Games, Edmond, Oklahoma
• 2010: Rookie of the year, Southern Conference Wheelchair Basketball, Augusta Bulldogs