Gwen Jorgensen gives US first Olympic gold in triathlon

A flat tire derailed her chances in the Olympic triathlon in London four years ago.

Amelie Kretz (2:02:48) of Blainville, Que., finished 34th, Victoria’s Kirsten Sweetland (2:04:16) was 41st and Quebec City’s Sarah-Anne Brault (2:04:28) was right behind her in 42nd. After the sixth of the eight laps, she was in the lead.

She covered her mouth with her hand to hold back the tears, making it across the finish line before she began sobbing.

“She said, ‘Let’s do something fun”.

“I’ve been pretty vocal about my goal for the past four years”.

“No one wanted to lead, ” Spirig said. He’s given up his career to support me.

“I’ve had a four-year plan, and I’m definitely a planner, but I have zero plans for August 21”, Jorgensen said. It’s pretty incredible that I was actually able to do it.

Jorgensen didn’t just fulfil her pledge she made four years ago but she checked off a bucket list box she’d long ago erased when she realized she was too slow in the pool to ever be an Olympian.

Starting the run in prime position, she destroyed her opponents in the style that has seen her break so many records in the sport.

Entering the Olympic women’s triathlon Saturday, Gwen Jorgensen took nothing for granted.

She agreed to give triathlon a try and quickly realized she was indeed a natural.

The CPA came back to win the 2014 and 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series Championship, and on Saturday she earned the Gold Medal in Rio.

Jorgensen has dominated the swim-bike-sport over the last two years but usually wins her races by chasing down the stronger bikers during the 10km run.

Within seconds, she had opened a gap on Spirig, one that would grow to 40 seconds by the end of the race.

At one point during their head-to-head run, both women slowed to a jog and exchanged words.

“Nicola and I were playing a few games”. In the third lap nobody wanted to lead. For me, I just felt like I didn’t have what it took, I’m not good enough.

Finally, Spirig acquiesced to the inevitable.

Jorgensen won the gold after coming in on top for the women’s individual triathlon event on Saturday morning. And then it is about who gets to the line first, not, “I am not going to run this pace because it will be better for Non”.

At 30, well-spoken, modest despite her fantastic achievements and an inspirational example to aspiring sportswomen, sponsors are likely to be queuing up, not just for her signature but for a piece of the triathlon action. “So, I was happy to hang with that group when there were times when I was definitely off the back”, Zaferes said. Zaferes had to wait until May to find out if she had made the team.