Thompson broke onto the international swimming scene in 1977 at the World Student Games in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the Games, he won silver in the 100m medley relay and the 100m butterfly. Thompson reflects on this milestone event and specifically the 100m butterfly race: “My first big international event winning a silver medal at the 1977 World Student games in Sofia Bulgaria. When we arrived, the water was green. The race was outdoors and I won this medal in a driving rain storm.”
