Goodwill's Thompson dreams of home crowds

Web posted July 8, 1998

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Jenny Thompson goes into this month's Goodwill Games expecting to get the same push from the fans that she enjoyed during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

``It will be very reminiscent of the Atlanta Olympics,'' Thompson said of the Goodwill Games swim competition July 28-Aug. 2 at the new Goodwill Games Swimming and Diving Center on Long Island.

``I think I will definitely feel the energy of the crowd more in the U.S. and I'm excited about the prospect of hearing that again,'' said Thompson, who was a member of three gold-medal relay teams.

Thompson is expected to anchor the 400-meter freesytle relay team in the Goodwill Games round robin dual meet competition against teams from China, Germany and a World All-Star team.

But much of the fan attention will focus on Thompson's individual races in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly as she bids to duplicate her stunning success in the world championships in January when she won the 100-meter freestyle and butterfly races.

``In Australia I was really relaxed,'' the 25-year-old Thompson said in a teleconference call Tuesday. ``I had a great time there with my friends and having a good time was a big factor in my success.''

Thompson, however, was reluctant to make any predictions for repeating such success in her first Goodwill Games.

``I've been swimming a lot of meets. I just did four meets in Europe and I feel really good how I've been racing and I'm gaining confidence,'' Thompson said.

``But I'm just going in with a real positive attitude and where it goes.''