Temple University Athletics
Former Fencing Standout Kamali Thompson Looks to Make Olympic Dreams a Reality
1.25.16 | Women's Fencing
by Marco Cerino, Athletic Communications Assistant
Temple University students are ready to take on the world when they graduate, and one Temple fencing alum is hoping to make that ideal a reality as she pursues a dream to the greatest stage of global athletics. Kamali Thompson looks to become the first Owl to compete in the Olympics in fencing as she attempts to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Thompson's story is one of overcoming unusual adversity and making up for lost time to achieve the incredible. Fencing itself isn't an easy sport to take up. If you don't have early exposure through family or live near a fencing club, chances of getting involved are slim. Thompson's mother, Avis, brought her to the Peter Westbrook Foundation in Manhattan, an organization devoted to exposing minority youth to the sport. After watching a demonstration, she was hooked. Thompson's mother thought the sport would help her college application stand out. At Teaneck High School in North Jersey, she excelled in competition and led her team to win the Passaic League. Individually, she placed second-team all-county and 15th in the state as a senior, going 47-8 on the year in sabre competition.
Her fencing success bolstered her strong grades and she matriculated to North Broad in the fall of 2008. Initially she faced an experience deficit against many of her opponents. "When I first started fencing at Temple, I had only been competing nationally for a year, and most people had been competing at least five or six years." That didn't phase her as she put together a tremendous career at Temple. Her career evolved from collegiate to global competition as an Owl. As a freshman, she won the sabre title, individually and for the team, at the 2009 National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association championship. The Owls have dominated the competition over the past two decades, including winning sabre and the combined team trophy each year with Thompson. By her junior year, she consistently placed well in national competitions and finished 16th at the Junior World Cup in Germany.
Thompson graduated in 2012 with a degree in biology and minor in psychology. Her legacy at Temple is remarkable. She qualified every year for the NCAA National Championship, finishing sixth her senior year and making All-American. Twice she received the PNC Female Student-Athlete Award from Temple, along with receiving nomination for 2011-12 NCAA Woman of the Year. Thompson graduated with a 175-48 record, setting a new school mark for sabre competition. Her coach Nikki Franke said she began as a "diamond in the rough," but had athletic potential. "In the four years that she was here, Kamali improved tremendously, a result of not just coaching, but due to her hard work, capability, and determination. She's one of the most determined people I know."
Many student-athletes discontinue competition after graduating college, but Thompson bucked the trend and remained active, representing the United States at the 2013 World University Games. The success gave her confidence to stay in the sport, despite her lack of initial experience. "The fact that I was able to do so well in college and beat people that had way more experience than me, that motivated me to make the Olympics." During her final NCAA appearance, Thompson defeated Rebecca Ward from Duke, who won the bronze medal at the Beijing Games in 2008.
In her quest, she has an excellent mentor with significant international experience. Coach Franke qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams, in addition to the Pan American and World University Games in the 1970s. Thompson cites her coach's experience as a competitor, in addition to her unparalleled record of success in coaching the Owls' fencers, as a great benefit. "I didn't really understand how important [her Olympic experience] was when I was in college, but now that I'm trying for the Olympics I listen to her and she's given me a lot of advice on what to do at this stage in my life. When I was at Temple, she was a really great coach at pushing you when you need it but also making sure that all other areas in your life are being taken care of too." Thompson returned to school at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, pursuing a medical degree and a MBA. She is taking off this semester, however, to focus on her training. Coach Franke marvels at Thompson's focus and ability to accomplish her goals. "To achieve everything Kamali has achieved and is still looking to accomplish, takes incredible focus and time management skills," said Franke.
In this pursuit of her Olympic dreams, Thompson has been fortunate to be able to keep in touch with her former teammates. Many live near her and stay in constant communication. She notes they often provide strong advice while she tries to solve various issues. Those who remained close knew that she would continue to fence and have been mindful of her commitment. Demands to hang out and spend time on the phone have lessened, which helps her focus on training and eliminates some burdens on her time. Thompson has remained committed to her friends and repaying their loyalty. "We're just equally supportive of what the other is doing. It's great that this team has been able to keep in touch with each other."
Many sports fans don't follow sports like fencing that appear in the Olympics but lack significant exposure between the four-year spectacles. That certainly doesn't mean that those athletes are not working and training just as hard to follow their dreams. While some sports like gymnastics or swimming have a single qualifying event to select participants, fencing goes by a points system that factors in results from national and international competition. When Coach Franke competed, the emphasis was on national tournaments to earn qualifying points. Today, international events carry far more weight towards earning an Olympic slot. For the Rio Games, Thompson has already competed in seven of 11 events, with three international events and one national event to go. Thompson prefers the prolonged schedule of events versus the pressure of a single competition to decide if the four years of training and sacrifice will be rewarded.
In addition to the investments of the mind and body, there's also a financial cost for this pursuit. Traveling to all these international events, employing trainers, facility usage, even hiring a sports psychologist, all these costs add up. While the United States Olympic Committee offers support today that wasn't available when Coach Franke competed, the costs can still rise to five-digit numbers. Thompson has hosted fundraisers in North Jersey and started a RallyMe website to encourage financial support from fans. She also uses social media to update fans on her progress, like a second-place finish in a national tournament in early January.
Currently Thompson sits seventh among the women's sabre qualifiers, but the point difference between fourth place and seventh place is small. The top four will travel to Rio in the summer. The next few months will decide if she'll represent her country and Temple in the Olympics. The end goal is certainly attainable and a great reward. However, her focus and drive every day and her relentless pursuit in training and competition, make her a shining example of Temple's ideals.Â
Follow Thompson's progress on her website HERE.
To donate to Thompson's RallyMe website, click HERE.
Â
Temple University students are ready to take on the world when they graduate, and one Temple fencing alum is hoping to make that ideal a reality as she pursues a dream to the greatest stage of global athletics. Kamali Thompson looks to become the first Owl to compete in the Olympics in fencing as she attempts to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Thompson's story is one of overcoming unusual adversity and making up for lost time to achieve the incredible. Fencing itself isn't an easy sport to take up. If you don't have early exposure through family or live near a fencing club, chances of getting involved are slim. Thompson's mother, Avis, brought her to the Peter Westbrook Foundation in Manhattan, an organization devoted to exposing minority youth to the sport. After watching a demonstration, she was hooked. Thompson's mother thought the sport would help her college application stand out. At Teaneck High School in North Jersey, she excelled in competition and led her team to win the Passaic League. Individually, she placed second-team all-county and 15th in the state as a senior, going 47-8 on the year in sabre competition.
Her fencing success bolstered her strong grades and she matriculated to North Broad in the fall of 2008. Initially she faced an experience deficit against many of her opponents. "When I first started fencing at Temple, I had only been competing nationally for a year, and most people had been competing at least five or six years." That didn't phase her as she put together a tremendous career at Temple. Her career evolved from collegiate to global competition as an Owl. As a freshman, she won the sabre title, individually and for the team, at the 2009 National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association championship. The Owls have dominated the competition over the past two decades, including winning sabre and the combined team trophy each year with Thompson. By her junior year, she consistently placed well in national competitions and finished 16th at the Junior World Cup in Germany.
Thompson graduated in 2012 with a degree in biology and minor in psychology. Her legacy at Temple is remarkable. She qualified every year for the NCAA National Championship, finishing sixth her senior year and making All-American. Twice she received the PNC Female Student-Athlete Award from Temple, along with receiving nomination for 2011-12 NCAA Woman of the Year. Thompson graduated with a 175-48 record, setting a new school mark for sabre competition. Her coach Nikki Franke said she began as a "diamond in the rough," but had athletic potential. "In the four years that she was here, Kamali improved tremendously, a result of not just coaching, but due to her hard work, capability, and determination. She's one of the most determined people I know."Many student-athletes discontinue competition after graduating college, but Thompson bucked the trend and remained active, representing the United States at the 2013 World University Games. The success gave her confidence to stay in the sport, despite her lack of initial experience. "The fact that I was able to do so well in college and beat people that had way more experience than me, that motivated me to make the Olympics." During her final NCAA appearance, Thompson defeated Rebecca Ward from Duke, who won the bronze medal at the Beijing Games in 2008.
In her quest, she has an excellent mentor with significant international experience. Coach Franke qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams, in addition to the Pan American and World University Games in the 1970s. Thompson cites her coach's experience as a competitor, in addition to her unparalleled record of success in coaching the Owls' fencers, as a great benefit. "I didn't really understand how important [her Olympic experience] was when I was in college, but now that I'm trying for the Olympics I listen to her and she's given me a lot of advice on what to do at this stage in my life. When I was at Temple, she was a really great coach at pushing you when you need it but also making sure that all other areas in your life are being taken care of too." Thompson returned to school at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, pursuing a medical degree and a MBA. She is taking off this semester, however, to focus on her training. Coach Franke marvels at Thompson's focus and ability to accomplish her goals. "To achieve everything Kamali has achieved and is still looking to accomplish, takes incredible focus and time management skills," said Franke.
In this pursuit of her Olympic dreams, Thompson has been fortunate to be able to keep in touch with her former teammates. Many live near her and stay in constant communication. She notes they often provide strong advice while she tries to solve various issues. Those who remained close knew that she would continue to fence and have been mindful of her commitment. Demands to hang out and spend time on the phone have lessened, which helps her focus on training and eliminates some burdens on her time. Thompson has remained committed to her friends and repaying their loyalty. "We're just equally supportive of what the other is doing. It's great that this team has been able to keep in touch with each other."
Many sports fans don't follow sports like fencing that appear in the Olympics but lack significant exposure between the four-year spectacles. That certainly doesn't mean that those athletes are not working and training just as hard to follow their dreams. While some sports like gymnastics or swimming have a single qualifying event to select participants, fencing goes by a points system that factors in results from national and international competition. When Coach Franke competed, the emphasis was on national tournaments to earn qualifying points. Today, international events carry far more weight towards earning an Olympic slot. For the Rio Games, Thompson has already competed in seven of 11 events, with three international events and one national event to go. Thompson prefers the prolonged schedule of events versus the pressure of a single competition to decide if the four years of training and sacrifice will be rewarded.In addition to the investments of the mind and body, there's also a financial cost for this pursuit. Traveling to all these international events, employing trainers, facility usage, even hiring a sports psychologist, all these costs add up. While the United States Olympic Committee offers support today that wasn't available when Coach Franke competed, the costs can still rise to five-digit numbers. Thompson has hosted fundraisers in North Jersey and started a RallyMe website to encourage financial support from fans. She also uses social media to update fans on her progress, like a second-place finish in a national tournament in early January.
Currently Thompson sits seventh among the women's sabre qualifiers, but the point difference between fourth place and seventh place is small. The top four will travel to Rio in the summer. The next few months will decide if she'll represent her country and Temple in the Olympics. The end goal is certainly attainable and a great reward. However, her focus and drive every day and her relentless pursuit in training and competition, make her a shining example of Temple's ideals.Â
Follow Thompson's progress on her website HERE.
To donate to Thompson's RallyMe website, click HERE.
Â
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