PWHL, Olympic champion Claire Thompson retires to pursue medical career
The 28-year-old won Olympic gold in 2022, silver in 2026 and an Olympic points record for a defender before returning to NYU medical school.
- On Oct. 1, 2026, Defender Claire Thompson announced her retirement via Instagram and the Athletic. She is leaving the sport to return to NYU for medical school.
- Olympic gold at the Beijing Games and silver at the Winter Olympics in Milan highlight Thompson’s premier international legacy. She set an Olympic record for points by a defender.
- In the PWHL, Thompson won the Walter Cup with the Minnesota Frost before spending the most recent season with the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes. These professional achievements highlight her impact.
- Focusing on her new path, Thompson intends to become an orthopedic surgeon. She has returned to NYU to begin her medical training, marking a new chapter.
- The defender exits the sport having recorded a notable point total in Olympic games. She leaves behind a distinguished record in both international and professional hockey as she pursues medicine.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Olympic Champion Retires at 28 for a Surprising Career Switch
Before Claire Thompson won the Olympic gold medal in 2022, she was pursuing a career in medicine. Following the 2020 graduation, the Canadian hockey player was accepted into NYU Grossman School of Medicine and started her journey towards her dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. While her hockey career ascended to new heights, Thompson was […]
PWHL, Olympic champion Claire Thompson retires to pursue medical career - Regional Media News
By Field Level Media Oct 02 (Field Level Media) - Canadian defenseman Claire Thompson is retiring from hockey at age 28 after returning to medical school to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. Thompson spent the past two years putting her studies at NYU [...]
PWHL, Olympic champion Claire Thompson retires to pursue medical career
By Field Level Media Oct 02 (Field Level Media) - Canadian defenseman Claire Thompson is retiring from hockey at age 28 after returning to medical school to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. Thompson spent the past two years putting her studi...
Idaho Press
Decorated defender Claire Thompson retires at 28 to return to medical school
Decorated women's hockey player Claire Thompson is retiring to return to medical school. Thompson announced she's calling it a career at age 28 to pursue becoming an orthopedic surgeon. The Toronto native won Olympic gold with Canada at the 2022…
Vancouver Goldeneyes player leaves hockey to become a doctor
The first player to ever sign with the Vancouver Goldeneyes has retired from hockey after one season with the team. Claire Thompson was one of the top defenders in the PWHL and had led all defenders in scoring a few years earlier at the 2022 Olympics for Team Canada. Now the 28-year-old, after one last Olympics in 2026, has retired from hockey to pursue her medical career. “A career in medicine has always been an overarching goal of mine, and I …
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