Q&A WITH
GWEN JORGENSEN
Already one of the most accomplished American triathletes in history, Jorgensen now eyes gold in 2016.
Five years ago, Gwen Jorgensen was a newly-minted college grad focused on passing the CPA exam and starting up a job with the accounting firm Ernst & Young. Today? She’s not only an Olympian, but the top-ranked female in the world, having made history in April as the first American woman to win an International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon Series event in San Diego. She won again in Yokohama, Japan, a few weeks later, solidifying her as one of the most accomplished triathletes to wear the USA uniform. But here’s the kicker: Jorgensen, 27, who swam and ran at the University of Wisconsin, did not race her first competitive triathlon until 2010.
Yes, she’s only just begun. And with the Rio Games looming large, Jorgensen has a laser-like focus on topping the podium in 2016 (she finished a disappointing 38th after a bike mechanical issue in London). Here, we caught up with the jet setting Jorgensen midway through her hotter-than-hot 2013 campaign to chat about her past, present and future.
USAT Magazine: First things first. Where in the world is Gwen Jorgensen?
Gwen Jorgensen: I’m currently living in Vitoria-Gasitez, in the Basque region of Spain. So far, I love the food, my apartment and the training.
USAT: Why Spain?
GJ: My new coach, Jamie Turner, trains all of his athletes here in the summer. The move to Europe was an easy decision. I knew that if I wanted to be competitive on the world stage, I had to be in a daily training environment that allows me to improve, and that’s what Jamie offers. Even though my background is in swimming, it’s the area where I needed the most work. Jamie and I went back to the basics, and I like where things are going.
USAT: So do you credit your recent success to having more experience in the sport, to your new coach, or to both?
GJ: It’s a combination of things. This sport is very hard and can be very humbling. I have had plenty of results at the bottom of the page. Triathlon is evolving and you always have to be willing to learn from your mistakes. Jamie and USAT have been so patient with me, they know when to push me and when I need time to adjust on my own.
USAT: Well, you certainly know how to push the pace — especially on the run. After posting a 32:44 10k split in Yokohama, have you ever considered racing on the track to see how fast you’d run fresh?
GJ: I would love to get out on the track or do a few road races. Do you know of any good 10k races this fall?
USAT: We’ll let you know. Speaking of racing, you have a way of making winning look easy. How do you stay calm in competitions?
GJ: I just focus on my own race. Especially with running, which is pretty simple. There are no tactics, it’s all about who can run the fastest. It’s just math — what time can I repeat for 10k.
USAT: You compete around the world, which seems so exciting. Is the life of a professional triathlete really as glamorous as it sounds?
GJ: Nobody enjoys sitting in a plane or packing a bike, but getting out and exploring a new city is worth it. I love traveling, getting to see new places and try new food. But I once had a flight from Japan to Australia where I had to pay for water. That was the worst.
USAT: That is the worst. On the flip side, what would you say has been the coolest moment of your career so far?
GJ: I think it was the year I arrived to Falls Creek [in the Australian Alps] for my first altitude camp. Training wasn’t intense or too challenging yet. My job there was to just do what I love: Swimming, running and cycling. I just got to hang out on top of a mountain and enjoy.
USAT: Sounds like quite the shift from your former job as a CPA. Tell us a bit about why you left your post at Ernst & Young.
GJ: When I was a CPA I loved my work. I know that at some point I will have the opportunity to do that again, but for now I’m focusing on triathlon.
USAT: Makes sense, especially since you’re already among the medal contenders in Rio. Is this something you’re working toward now, or are you more focused on this season?
GJ: Right now, gold in Rio is my top focus. Everything I am doing is with that in mind.
USAT: We assume everything encompasses your nutrition, too. Have you changed your eating habits since becoming a pro?
GJ: My eating habits have evolved a lot. I eat for enjoyment, but I do so with a purpose. I give my body what it needs to perform. I tend to be gluten free, but that’s mostly because I love rice and potatoes. I put fresh vegetables and fruit into all my meals. Chocolate also seems to be a top priority for my happiness!
USAT: So, besides chocolate, what else makes you happy?
GJ: Being at home in St. Paul, Minn., either on my mountain bike or writing reviews on Yelp. Usually, [my boyfriend] Patrick Lemieux is close by. He’s part of my amazing support team. I wouldn’t even be able to do triathlon without them. They allow me to win.
— Interview by Sarah Wassner Flynn
40 USA TRIATHLON SUMMER 2013
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