Gwen Jorgensen facts for kids
Jorgensen following her win at the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series race in Stockholm.
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Gwen Rosemary Jorgensen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 25, 1986 Waukesha, Wisconsin |
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| Residence | Portland, Oregon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Triathlon (2010 - 2017) Marathon (2017 - 2021) |
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| Turned pro | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Bobby McGee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | Track and Field mile: 4:39.43 i |
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Medal record
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Gwen Rosemary Jorgensen (born April 25, 1986) is an American athlete. She is known for her amazing skills in triathlon and distance running. Gwen became the world champion in triathlon in both 2014 and 2015. She was also named the top female athlete for the Olympics/ITU by USA Triathlon in 2013 and 2014.
Gwen was part of the US Olympic team in 2012. She then made history at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. There, she won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the USA in triathlon. Her winning time was 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 16 seconds.
Contents
Gwen Jorgensen's Sports Journey
Starting Out in Sports
Gwen Jorgensen went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a talented athlete there, competing in both swimming and running. After college, she earned a master's degree in accounting. She even passed the CPA exam and worked as a tax accountant.
But her path changed when USA Triathlon noticed her. They were looking for former college swimmers and runners. They encouraged Gwen to try the sport of triathlon. In 2010, she was named USA Triathlon's Rookie of the Year. This was after she won a silver medal at the World University Triathlon Championships in Spain.
Olympic Dreams and Winning Streaks
In 2011, Gwen placed second at the World Championship Series in London. This amazing result earned her a spot on the 2012 US Olympic triathlon team. However, during the London Olympics, she had some bad luck. Her bike got a flat tire, and she finished in 38th place.
Gwen didn't give up. In 2014, she started an incredible winning streak. She won four World Triathlon Series races in a row. No other female athlete had ever done that before! Her winning streak continued through 2015. By the end of that year, she had won 13 races in a row. This amazing run finally ended in 2016 in Australia. Another athlete, Helen Jenkins, beat her.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Gwen achieved her biggest dream. She won the gold medal in triathlon. After her Olympic win, she also ran in the New York City Marathon. She finished 14th in that race.
Family and New Challenges
In January 2017, Gwen shared exciting news. She and her husband were expecting a baby. Their son, Stanley, was born in August 2017.
In November 2017, Gwen announced a big change. She decided to stop competing in triathlon. Her new goal was to win an Olympic gold medal in the Marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, she faced some challenges. She had injuries and needed heel surgery. Because of this, she changed her focus again in December 2019. She decided to try to qualify for the Olympics in track events, like the 5,000m or 10,000m races. Unfortunately, she was not able to qualify for those events.
In October 2019, Gwen's mother and sister wrote a book about her. It's called Go, Gwen, Go: A Family's Journey to Olympic Gold. The book tells the story of Gwen's journey from being an accountant to an Olympic champion. It also shares her family's experiences.
Gwen returned to the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2023. She tried to make the US team for the 2024 Summer Olympics triathlon. However, after two races in 2024, she was not chosen for the team. She was invited to be an alternate, meaning she could step in if someone else couldn't compete.
Images for kids
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Jorgensen following her win at the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series race in Stockholm.
See also
In Spanish: Gwen Jorgensen para niños
