Kamali Thompson is a professional fencer, US Olympic alternate, and orthopedic surgery resident. She still manages to take life in stride, the perfect combination of confidence and humbleness. Whether in medical scrubs or fencing gear, she never lets them see her sweat. Thompson is a great example to all black women that how she established her footing as a Black woman in fencing, medicine, and business and the unique ways she channels her superpowers.
Thompson is an orthopedic surgery intern at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn State Medical School and a fencer for Team USA. She is now an Orthopedic Surgery Resident who practices amid a pandemic after graduating from business and medical school.
Katherine Thompson was born and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. From her childhood, her parents instilled the values of practice and dedication in everything she did. Many years later, when she entered the competitive fields of fencing and medicine, the same training and attempting skills would come in handy.
Her great inspiration was her mother. Her mother has always encouraged her to be herself and do what she wants, what she loves. Mostly from her mother, she gains confidence and self-esteem.
Thompson’s fencing career did not begin on a happy note. Her mother wanted her to fence because it increased her chances of getting a college scholarship. She was a dancer in school, but her mother wanted her to fence because it enhanced her chances of receiving a college scholarship.
Her coach suggested she join the Peter Westbrook Foundation, a fencers organization founded by the former US champion and Olympic medalist Peter Westbrook. Westbrook wants to give blacks a chance to learn about fencing and pursue it. Thompson joined her junior year, and the rest was history.
Kamali is an Olympic fencer who has dreamed of being a doctor since she was a child. Her next challenge will be an orthopedic residency, as she has several fencing successes on her resume. And finally, she achieved her goal with prestige.
Thompson’s brother, Khalil, is also training for the Olympics and would make history if he qualifies as well. Both brothers are fencers and both are African Americans, which is a rarity in fencing.
She has won 14 national medals as an athlete. She was a member of the 2019 United States national team and an alternate for the 2021 United States Olympic team in women’s saber.
