Rio Test Event

August 9, 2015 gwen jorgensen

On August 4th, 2012, I sprinted down the blue carpet in 38th place at the 2012 London Olympics. I crossed the finish line and had one thought: How can I win gold in 2016? I researched coaches and joined Jamie Turner and the Wollongong Wizards and the four year journey began. The work has been harder than I ever imagined and although there are days I wonder what in the world I got myself into, most days, I pinch myself in disbelief of how far I’ve come and the life I’m able to live.

I’m in awe of the support I have, and of the patience Jamie and Patrick have with me. I’m fortunate to have them both in my life, leading me on this journey to Rio. This past weekend, I made a huge stride towards my aspiration for gold in Rio: I qualified for the Olympic Games! I am excited, honored, and cannot wait to represent Team USA in Rio next year.

The Olympic Test Event and US Olympic Trials was on August 2nd, 2015. I didn’t know what to expect from the venue as we were told Rio may not have everything completed in time; however, I was pleasantly surprised. The race was extremely professional and the roads we cycled on were in mint condition. I think the biggest thing everyone is talking about is the water quality. The AP published a report saying the water was unclean and dangerous to swim in. I’m told the area we swam at for the race (Copacabana Beach) is the cleanest of the bodies of water that will hold Olympic events in Rio 2016. When I swam in the water, it seemed clean, but you can’t “see” viruses and bacteria in the water. Something that gave me confidence in the water quality was the thousands of tourists and locals swimming in the water daily. Water quality is not a new issue for triathletes. Every major city we race in is going to have some concerns with water quality; however, it’s not something we worry about. The ITU and the USOC conducted water quality tests, like before every race. The results met the standards in order to race. Our health is a priority and the ITU and USOC conduct tests to make sure the standards are met. I don’t waste energy wondering what if. Instead, I prepare for the race and am extremely excited to race. I was impressed with the Rio Test Event and look forward to coming back next year. Not only did I feel safe, but I also loved the crowds. I was amazed with how many people came out to watch the triathlon.

I arrived in Rio on the Monday before the race. Race day arrived quickly and it was hard to believe the biggest race of my season was finally here. I felt prepared, but I was still nervous. I tried to just put it in God’s hands, as I knew all the work was done and there was nothing more I could do but enjoy the race. The race started at 9am with a run into the Ocean at Copacobana beach. The swim was physical and rough for me. I could tell I wasn’t in the position I wanted but I continued to stay in the moment and move up spots. I exited the water in the top 20, and thankfully made the lead bike pack. The bike was eight laps with two hills per lap. I really enjoyed the course. The hills mentally broke up each lap and added an extra challenge. We started the run and it was hot with barely any shade on the 10km course. When I hit the finish tape, I had so many emotions: happiness, joy, excitement, relief … To work towards something for four years is a long time, and I knew I had just accomplished the first step towards my 2016 Olympic dream.

After the race, I hung out with my mom, dad, and sister Elizabeth who I hadn’t seen since Christmas. I also had one of the best nights, thanks to Red Bull hosting a party for me and my supporters and friends. We enjoyed drinks, food, and music on the balcony of a restaurant in Ipanema. It was perfect – thank you, Red Bull! Specialized and Oakley were also at the race providing support.

I flew back to the Basque Region after the race. Patrick and I rented a car and drove to France to have a celebration holiday. We rode some Tour de France climbs and made time for good food, wine, and relaxation. I haven’t been this relaxed in a very long time, and I’m going to enjoy it for as long as I can. I won’t race again until the Grand Final in Chicago on September 18th. Thank you for following and thank you for all the support and the kind messages. The smile on my face is still there and I am looking forward to representing team USA for a second time. Thank you.

Patrick took this photo pre-race...it is almost like he knew who was going to be on the podium

We forgot to take a picture of my dinner the night before the race so here is a picture of my dinner two nights before the race

This photo is dark, but it's one of my favorites. It is me, Coach Jamie, and Aaron Royle who also qualified for the Olympics!

This is me and Patrick enjoying some cheese in France on our celebration holiday

Me and my family post race :) love you all

My sister and me enjoying some food in Brazil

Post race selfie with the family while watching the men race

Hamburg WTS

July 22, 2015 gwen jorgensen

The 2015 Hamburg WTS was the first WTS since London six weeks ago. I have been training in Vitoria, Spain, for the biggest race of my season: the Rio test event which is on August 2nd. The Rio course is hilly on the bike, so I have been doing lots of riding to prepare for the race. However, before Rio, I had one final test in Hamburg.

I knew my competitors put in a big block of training to prepare for the second half of the season and were going to be getting faster. However, I didn’t think about the others going into the race as I knew there was only one thing I could control: my own race.

Hamburg was a sprint distance race (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run). It started off with a non wetsuit swim in the lake. It’s an amazing swim venue where fans are literally sitting on the edge of the water cheering on athletes who are a few feet away. I exited the water in fifth and a group of 12 quickly formed on the bike. The chase pack could see us the entire race, and ended up catching us with one lap to go. The bike course is completely flat, but has a lot of turns, making the ride more difficult than it seems on paper. As I ran out of transition, I saw the leaders up the road. They seemed to get further away from me for a little bit before I caught the leaders with 2.5km to go. From there, I put in a few surges, leaving only me and Vicky Holland (WTS winner in Cape Town 2015). It was going to come down to a tactical sprint. I knew Vicky had a great kick from watching her win medals at the Commonwealth Games and in Cape Town this year. With a couple hundred meters to go, I started my kick and somehow managed to come across the line in first. It was an incredible feeling and I was extremely happy.

After the race, I had a lovely German dinner with two friends (Stephanie and Erik) who drove to my race from Gouda. Stephanie is a former Wisconsin Badger, and also a former colleague of mine at Ernst & Young, LLP. It was great to catch up with them and enjoy German beer, sausage, sauerkraut, herring, and potato salad.

I am now back in Vitoria for one more week of training and fine tuning before Rio. The Rio test event is the first opportunity for Americans to earn a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team. The first and second American in the top eight at Rio will earn an Olympic spot. It is what I have been aspiring to achieve since the London 2012 Olympics.

Pure Joy

The podium. Vicky Holland and Non Stanford

In Hamburg there are beer showers

Focus before others are called to the pontoon for lineup

Transition details

Pre race thoughts

This was my first race on my new custom Amira - isn't it pretty?!? I love it. It has many details that I love including my name, "Gwen Jorgensen" and my married last name Lemieux and a Wollongong Wizard hat.

This is what I do before a race: computer, legs up, chocolate.

My friend Stephanie Reed and her fiancé Erik came to watch the race!

This is Gavin Noble taking his picture with a cutout me. He should have just asked for a real picture in person :)

And this was the pre race hotel dinner.

Two bouquets of flowers. The one on the right was from winning the race, but the one on the left means so much more to me. The roses were a surprise from Patrick. The night before the race he came back with groceries and flowers :)

London WTS 2015

June 5, 2015 gwen jorgensen

Race morning I wrote in my journal that I felt “good enough to compete, but not well enough to be confident…Remember this is good practice for performing under any circumstance. Enjoy the challenge, push yourself, focus on the controllables.” I wasn’t excited to race like I normally am. I had doubts and I didn’t know what to expect. But, when race time arrived, I dove in giving it my all. I had a great start, exiting the water in 4th position which put me in the lead pack of seven on the bike. The women worked well together, taking turns on the front to keep a 25 second lead coming into T2. As I started the run, I was uncertain of what my legs could produce. I ran with compatriots Sarah True and Katie Zaferes, trying to hold on, until I was able to make a break and cross the line in first. It was an incredibly hard race for me, but I am proud of my effort and happy with the result. Team USA had a podium sweep for the second time this year! It is incredible to be part of such a strong USA contingency. Thank you, USAT, for all of your help and support; the results show how much work you do.

When the race ended, I couldn’t believe it was time to head back to Vitoria. It seemed like such a short trip to London. I arrived late on Thursday evening and flew out Monday morning, but I got a lot done in the hours I was in London. Patrick’s parents, Jane and Craig Lemieux, flew from the USA to watch me race and to visit with us for the first time since Christmas. Mark Holowesko (who sponsors me through his incredible boutique hotel: The Island House) also flew to London from the USA with his wife Nancy to watch the race. Nancy took a flight to London from the USA for only two days to watch the race—now that’s dedication! After the race, Mark treated me, the Lemieuxs, and Coach Jamie and his partner Esti to dinner. It was a fun-filled night, and the perfect way to end a successful race weekend. Thank you, Mark, Nancy, Craig, Jane, and Heather for flying over and for your continued support.

I want to thank all of the fans that came out to Hyde Park to cheer on the triathletes. It’s motivating to see and hear so many people. I must apologize to some fans, however. After races, I like to spend time taking selfies and signing autographs; however, after the race in London, I was taken straight to drug testing. Usually, I am in and out in about a half an hour. In London, I was in there for over three hours. First, I gave blood. Then I produced a urine sample that was too dilute. By the time I was able to produce a sample that was concentrated enough, the venue was dissembled and no fans were left. I want to give my sincere apologies, especially to those who I Tweeted I’d get a photo with you.

On Monday morning, I had an opportunity to visit the Columbia Threadneedle (CT) Headquarters and meet some of the employees who competed in the age group triathlon races. They treated Patrick, my agent Heather, and me to a proper English breakfast in a quaint London building. They called it the “city breakfast.” It consisted of scrambled eggs on toast, tomato, mushroom, sausage, bacon, and black pudding. After breakfast, we went to Bloomberg Business of Sport for an interview. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was fish tanks. Apparently Mr. Bloomberg thinks fish help relax you and clear your mind. The office is so big and they have so many fish tanks that there is a fulltime marine biologist at the office. The interview was conducted in the middle of the work area (a modern, open cubicle area). I watched as a broadcaster gave the news while I was being interviewed. She stood on a block of wood that had controls at her feet. She controlled the camera, gave the news, and looked amazing while doing it! After Bloomberg, we went back to the Columbia Threadneedle office for a meet and greet. Thank you, CT, for the wonderful day and for supporting our sport and encouraging others to get involved in a healthy lifestyle.

After London, Patrick and I went to San Sebastian, the food capital of the world. San Sebastian has the most Michelin stars per capita of anywhere in the world. We had a great time eating, drinking, relaxing, and not talking about or doing anything related to triathlon. My next race will be the Hamburg WTS on July 18th.