Cheryl Abplanalp Thompson (born June 1, 1972) is an American

handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the g ...

player. She competed in the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

Early life and education

Abplanalp was born in

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Bryn Mawr, pronounced , from Welsh for big hill, is a census-designated place (CDP) located across three townships: Radnor Township and Haverford Township in Delaware County, and Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It i ...

. She played field hockey, basketball and softball at

Great Valley High School Great Valley High School is a comprehensive, college preparatory, public high school located in eastern Chester County. It is located in East Whiteland Township, near Malvern, Pennsylvania. Located on the same campus as Great Valley Middle School ...

in eastern

Chester County Chester County may refer to: * Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States * Chester County, South Carolina, United States * Chester County, Tennessee, United States * Cheshire or the County Palatine of Chester, a ceremonial county in the North Wes ...

, Pennsylvania. She was a three-sport athlete at

Davis and Elkins College Davis & Elkins College (D&E) is a private college in Elkins, West Virginia. History The school was founded in 1904 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. It was named for Henry G. Davis and his son-in-law Stephen B. Elkins, who were b ...

and co-captain of the field hockey, basketball and softball teams. She was named Davis And Elkins College Athlete of the year in 1993-'94. She graduated from Davis and Elkins in 1994.

Career

Abplanalp began playing team handball and became the youngest player for

Team USA The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions. Olympic teams Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...

at the

in Atlanta. In 2001, she was inducted into the Davis and Elkins College Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Abplanalp married John Thompson and they have one daughter together.

References

1972 births Living people Handball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics American female handball players Olympic handball players for the United States People from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Davis & Elkins Senators women's basketball players Davis & Elkins Senators softball players Davis & Elkins Senators field hockey players {{US-handball-bio-stub