Luke-Kennedy Thompson knew.

"My siblings and I grew a liking to the water from a young age," said Thompson, a senior Howard University swimmer. "Our parents then enrolled us in swim lessons to learn water safety. Our affiliation to the water was seen by our teachers, who recommended my parents enroll us in club swimming to further our swimming skills."

Thompson and his younger siblings, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson and Mark-Anthony Thompson are also Howard University swimming team members.

They recognized talent because the oldest Thompson has been doing amazing things since he helped his club team, Bahamas, win their first Carifta Swimming Championship in 2014, making history for aquatic swimming in the Bahamas.

Fast forward eight years later. Thompson is still leaving marks of excellence.

With his parents, Dr. Woodley and Verneque Thompson, in attendance, the Nassau, Bahamas native established two Bahamian national records in the men's 200-meter freestyle (1:51.31) and 400-meter freestyle (3:56.22) at the World Swimming Short Course Championships last December in Melbourne, Australia.

Following each race, Thompson's glowing facial expression exploded into a euphoric roar once he learned the significance of his performances. 

"It was a humbling experience, as I was honored to be able to break the records held by the son of the coach who taught me how to swim," Thompson said. "I didn't even know I broke it until the team manager told me. Once she did, I just thanked God and immediately went to embrace the accomplishment with my parents. We have been focusing on increasing power and efficiency off our turns, reflecting in my swims at the World Swimming Short Course Championships, allowing me to achieve such success."

It was an effort to cherish for the affable Thompson, who has enjoyed sharing some of his most significant personal and record-setting triumphs with his immediate family and his Bison teammates.

"First, I just want to thank God for allowing me to represent my country at the highest level in swimming," said Thompson, a biology major who is also minoring in chemistry. "Further, I thank God for the opportunity to swim in the last remaining HBCU with a Division I swim and diving program. It is a blessing and privilege to train on Howard University's swim team as they have taught and trained me to be a champion and leader in my swimming community."

Thompson enjoys being one of Howard's aquatic ambassadors.

"There is so much I can say, but what stands out the most is that our team is a family," Thompson said. "We train, study, and improve each other daily, whether through academics or

our athletic performances. Like iron sharpens iron, we sharpen each other. In addition, listening to music on the speakers while we practice makes each practice fun and unique."

Everything hasn't been easy for Thompson, who overcame his share of challenges.

"Between 2014 and 2017, I faced a rollercoaster of challenges from coach changes, injuries, and low motivation," Thompson said. "Yet, I continued to train throughout this process. During these challenges, my new coach gave me a different perspective on training and shifted my discipline.

"Things finally started to change for me, culminating in a huge achievement at my final Carifta in 2019, where I was named team captain for Team Bahamas. I received the High Point trophy for scoring the most points out of all males in my age group. I medaled in every event, even qualified, and later competed at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru."

While the national records have been the centerpiece to Thompson's sterling winter so far, he's also delivered one resplendent performance after another in each of Howard's last two swimming meets.

Last weekend as Howard hosted UMBC, Thompson cruised to victories in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,000-yard freestyle races.

Before Christmas, Thompson took fourth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:37.27 (2nd in Northeast Conference), silver in the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.26 (4th in NEC), and eighth in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:07.26 (5th in NEC) at the Loyola Hounds Invitational. The senior helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team to a bronze finish with a split time of 1:42.80.

"I swim every day except Sunday and twice on Tuesday and Thursdays," Thompson said. "I also go to the weight room Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My favorite part of training is between swimming drills and doing bench presses in the weight room. However, my least favorite part of training is running reservoir runs at 5:30 a.m. when it's cold outside. Being an international student from the Bahamas, the cold is something I'm still not a fan of, nonetheless running in it."
 

While Thompson may not enjoy running in cold weather, he loves boating so much that he recently got his captain's license.

In addition to traveling and listening to gospel and reggae music, Thompson loves playing the piano, guitar, and drums.

Thompson has found a home at Howard ever since he arrived on campus. He has a goal of becoming an orthodontist and practicing in the Bahamas.

"Being able to represent Howard is an honor and privilege as we are the last remaining HBCU with a Division I swim and diving program," Thompson said. "We represent ourselves and our communities. Being a part of something bigger than ourselves is truly humbling. Howard is well known for producing leaders and highly educated individuals in many disciplines. I am a student first before I am an athlete."

Rob Knox is an award-winning professional. A member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Hall of Fame, Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA).