Ex-Badger Gwen Jorgensen wins women’s triathlon at 2016 Rio Olympics

[Da-news-now]

After a flat tire derailed what looked like sure gold medal hopes for former Badgers track & field and swimming star Gwen Jorgensen at the 2012 London Olympic games, she had one singular mission over the last four years.

Just win gold baby.

On Saturday afternoon, Jorgensen crossed the finish line holding back tears and blowing away the competition to do just that — taking home the gold medal in the triathlon at the 2016 Rio Olympic games.

“Gwen was meticulous in her preparation for today’s competition,” UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. “She carried a huge burden as a favorite, and executed a flawless race plan, showing her confidence, maturity, and belief in herself. The state of Wisconsin should be proud of her as we are here at UW.

“Congratulations to Gwen, her coaches and Team USA on making history today in Brazil.”

Jorgensen, a Waukesha, Wis. native, finished some 40 seconds ahead of silver medal winner Nicola Spirig of Switzerland in the process. However, it wasn’t all easy as the two were clear front runners, with Spiring the beneficiary of Jorgensen’s flat tire in the bike portion of the race at the 2012 games and taking home gold.

But, this time around Jorgensen had no mechanical issues and the world got the battle everyone thought would happen.

After the swim and bike portion Jorgensen was inside the top 10, not a bad spot considering the bike is her weak point. With the 10-kilometer run in front of them, Jorgensen and Spirig separated themselves from the rest of the field and ended up trading the lead back and forth over the course of the first few laps around the road course.

Only one had a final kick in her and that was Jorgensen who managed to set history with her victory in the triathlon. She became the first athlete to ever win the gold medal in triathlon from the United States of America.

Jorgensen is the first UW female track and field athlete to medal at the Olympics, and she is the first track and field athlete to win gold since Arlie Schardt won gold in the 3000-meter team race at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.

She also became the second Badgers female athlete to win gold in Rio, as Cierra Runge was a part of Team USA’s 800-meter freestyle relay team that claimed gold on Aug. 10.

The post Ex-Badger Gwen Jorgensen wins women’s triathlon at 2016 Rio Olympics appeared first on Madtown Badgers.

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[TW]

It was a great race, and win. They're showing a story on her right now on NBC.

 

[eyecatcher]

Gwen is a great story. Recruited in 2010 by the US Triathlon team because of her strong swim and run but had never ridden a road bike. She trained for a year while working full time for Ernst and Young as a CPA and ended up qualifying for the 2012 olympics. She won 13 straight world triathlon titles in 2014 - 2015. Amazing accomplishment.

 

[TW]

Gwen's husband was a pro bike rider. He got her riding from what I heard. The rest just kind of came together from her past. I'm smiling because of the Wisconsin connection and how our long distance running programs are finally coming together, and we're seeing Americans becoming competitive in all phases. It was getting tiring seeing our athletes being beaten up in competition.

 

[eyecatcher]

Gwen's husband was a pro bike rider. He got her riding from what I heard. The rest just kind of came together from her past. I'm smiling because of the Wisconsin connection and how our long distance running programs are finally coming together, and we're seeing Americans becoming competitive in all phases. It was getting tiring seeing our athletes being beaten up in competition.

He met her after she qualified for the 2012 Olympics. He has since given up his cycling to help her and as a result she is an excellent cyclist now. He is former pro cyclist Patrick Lemieux