Career
Thompson was born in Scotland and in the early 1920s moved to Canada, where he started training in swimming at the Toronto Young Men’s Christian Association club In 1928 the Canadian Olympic Committee selected him for the Olympics as a fourth team member, but could sponsor only three swimmers. Thompson, a machinist by profession, had modest incomes and had to seek sponsors to attend the Games.
Later he initiated a government-sponsored swimming program for poor, and between 1932 and 1966 worked as the head coach of the Hamilton Aquatic Club.
Hamilton"s Jimmy Thompson Memorial Swimming Pool carried his name. He died of cancer in 1966.