North Carolina State University Athletics
CARR: Thompson Looking to Make a Difference
10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Oct. 6, 2010
RALEIGH, N.C. -
By A.J. CARR
Meg Thompson's NC State teammates call her an "eclectic mess."
"They're right,'' Thompson said, cracking a wide smile. "I like everything."
In addition to posting top five career times in two events for the Wolfpack women's swim team, she has -- at various periods -- sang in the choir at Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, played the cello in the Raleigh Civic Symphony, and earned enough credits to graduate in three years as an honor student.
Futuristically, Thompson talks of an affinity for art, teaching, writing, foreign diplomacy, environmental work and traveling, all the while cognizant she's fortunate to be pondering any possibilities.
A little over a year ago, in May of 2009, she suffered a blood clot in the brain that forced the high-energy sprinter to slow down and take a summer off from swimming. After treatments with medication and getting doctors' clearance, she flipped right back into her fast-forward mode -- in and out of the pool.
POSEIDON ADVENTURE
Near the end of the 2010 school year, due in part to her myriad interests, Thompson was trapped in a current of conflict. On one hand, she wanted to stay at NC State during the summer and train for swimming. On the other hand, being someone "always up for travel," she embraced the idea of doing a study program in Guatemala.
"I'm really dedicated to swimming,'' Thompson explained, but added: "I had kind of a rough season (last year), had worked really hard and nothing panned out. Didn't get any of my goal times. It was frustrating. I decided to give myself a break."
So she went to the Guatemala for seven weeks, lived with a host family, rode boats to some classes, and worked on a Concept Odyssey project about the changing youth culture in the Central America country.
Surprisingly, while there, Thompson had one of her most exhilarating -- and exhausting -- swimming experiences.
Against the advice of friends and natives, the defiant Thompson swam from San Marcos to Cerro de Oro - becoming the first person to log that 5.9 mile stretch across Lake Atitlen.
There were risks. People could get extremely ill from the bacteria. Several swimmers also had been hit and killed by boats, but Thompson didn't heed the warnings.
"I like to take on challenges and when I make up my mind to do something, I do it,'' she wrote on her Guatemala travel blog, "I wanted to take on Poseidon."
Followed by friends riding in kayaks, she crossed the wide expanse in two hours, 15 minutes, a grind that left her "exhausted, trembling, goose-bumped and close to a breaking point."
A week later, shortly after returning to her Centreville, Va., home, Thompson was stricken with a severe case of shigella, which attacks the epithelial cells of the large intestine.
Despite the illness, the effervescent Thompson is happy about her marathon swim and says of the overall trip: "I think it is the best thing I've ever done. I had an incredible experience, not just academically. I learned a lot about life over there and (now) I'm excited to be back."
LAST LAPS
Rejuvenated after time away from the sport she started taking seriously at age 11, Thompson is focusing sharply again on swimming goals
Already, she ranks third all time on NC State's chart in the 100 meter butterfly with a 52.20, and fifth in the 50 freestyle on a 23.52 time. Though a junior, this is her final season and she wants to finish with a splash.
Individually, making the top eight in the ACC is an objective. More importantly, her desire is to help the Pack place among the conference's first four teams.
"We are trying to leave a legacy here,'' said Thompson, a former prep All-America who chose NC State over Penn State and Connecticut three years ago.
Few, if any, athletes work harder swimming and studying. In addition to an arduous 20 hours of practice per week, Thompson took 41 academic hours last year -- 21 one semester and 20 another -- in pursuit of a three-year degree in anthropology.
"I was still social,'' said the gregarious Thompson, who carries a 3.6 grade point average. "I didn't hide in a closet."
"She is not your typical student athlete, but the kind you would like to have more of,'' said head coach Brooks Teal. "She's very hard working, very positive, very energetic, very motivated. She pushes herself extremely hard in everything and does well. It's pretty amazing."
Sure, there are times she doesn't feel like practicing at 5:40 a.m., which the Pack does three days a week -- and then swim another 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon. Yet Thompson insists she thrives on working out and this summer in Guatemala she was conditioned for early wake up calls, thanks to a rooster that started crowing outside her bedroom window at 3 a.m.
Unlike a year ago, Thompson hopes her hard work in the water will result in faster times and good team results.
"I'm excited about this year, my team, academics, and contributing to a better future," she said.
WHAT'S AHEAD?
After her last swim with the Pack, Thompson will consider several options.
She says her dream job would be traveling and working as an adventure writer for National Geographic.
Then, she also has a keen interest in helping with the fresh water crisis, writing, teaching, and even getting a pilot's license.
"That's the problem, there are too many things I want to do,'' she said. "(But) I will figure it out in the next couple of months."
As for now, Thompson just knows she wants to make a worldly difference in life after swimming.
