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Top-ranked Gwen Jorgensen launches scholarship for young talent

Credit: ITU/triathlon.org
Credit: ITU/triathlon.org

The top-ranked ITU athlete and Olympian, Gwen Jorgensen, together with USA Triathlon and her wetsuit sponsor ROKA, has launched a scholarship for up-and-coming triathletes and paratriathletes.

The Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship was created to assist junior draft-legal triathletes and paratriathletes in their pursuit of excellence in the sport leading to the 2016 Olympics. In 2014, $15,000 and mentoring services with Jorgensen will be awarded to one or multiple applicants who demonstrate financial need, creative use of funds and passion for the multisport lifestyle. Members of the multisport community, including athletes, coaches and race directors, are welcome to apply, but funding must be applied to programming, training or travel costs for junior triathletes ages 19 and under.

“With the goal of promoting excellence at an early age, I am excited to launch the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship this year,” Jorgensen said. “The triathlon community has supported me and instilled values of excellence since I was introduced to the sport in 2010. I want to do the same and give back to the next generation of potential triathlon stars. I especially appreciate ROKA and the USA Triathlon Foundation for their commitment to match my contribution.”

President of the USA Triathlon Foundation, Jacqueline McCook explained, “We are honored to be partnering with Gwen to establish this important scholarship, and to support our junior draft-legal triathletes as they pursue their Olympic dreams and quest to bring home the gold. Gwen’s example and initiative tie directly with the Foundation’s mission of ‘Opening Pathways to Triathlon for All through the Generosity of Donors.’ We are thrilled to support this initiative.”

“We are honored to support Gwen and her scholarship program,” said Rob Canales, Co-Founder and CEO of ROKA. “Gwen is a remarkable triathlete and person, one who is keenly aware that it takes support at many levels to achieve greatness. It speaks volumes for her character that so early in her career she wants to give back. We couldn’t be more pleased to help with that endeavor.”

Details on how to apply for the scholarship are available here . Applications must be submitted to gwenjorgensenscholarship@gmail.com by Nov. 1, and the scholarship will be awarded on Dec. 1.

Jorgensen, who competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games has won four consecutive 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series races this season in Hamburg, Chicago, London and Yokohama. A former collegiate runner and swimmer, Jorgensen was introduced to draft-legal triathlon in 2010 through the USA Triathlon Collegiate Recruitment Program.