Triathlon Beginnings
Born April 25, 1986 in Waukesha, Wis. She was a member of the cross country, swimming and track & field teams at the University of Wisconsin. But she did not complete her first competitive triathlon until 2010, after being identified by USA Triathlon’s Collegiate Recruitment Program.
Major Competitions
Jorgensen claimed world championships in both 2014 and 2015.
At the 2012 London Olympics, a flat bike tire caused her to finish 38th.
Breakout Moment
When Jorgensen decided to become a triathlete, she was working up to 65 hours per week as a full-time accountant at Ernst & Young. She still managed to train in her free time, and was named the 2010 USA Triathlon Rookie of the Year.
Records Held
Jorgensen won 12 consecutive World Triathlon Series races, the longest streak in history. She won seven WTS races in 2015, the most in one year. In 2015, she became the first U.S. athlete to win back-to-back triathlon world championships.
Signature
Jorgensen, who was a collegiate All-American in both cross country and track, is known for her running speed. She recorded the fastest run leg in all seven of her World Triathlon Series races in 2015. Four of those triathlons featured an Olympic-distance 10km run. In those races, she finished the run leg an average of 46 seconds before the second-fastest triathlete, allowing her to make up significant time after the bike leg.
Top Quotes
“She has more than raised the bar. She is the bar right now.” –Sarah True
Olympic Experience
2012: No medal
Outside of Triathlon
Jorgensen is a self-described foodie. During the season, she visits a new restaurant every week. During the off-season, she takes an “Eatcation,” where she eats at a different restaurant for every meal with her husband, Pat Lemieux. She also enjoys a piece of dark chocolate after every meal.
Social Media
Facebook: Gwen Jorgensen
Twitter: @GwenJorgensen
Instagram: gwenjorgensen