7 years after her last World Triathlon win, Gwen Jorgensen wins in Valencia
American star takes first World Triathlon win in 2,569 days
Photo by:
World Triathlon/ Ben Lumley
She might not have been at the Paris Test event, and she isn’t on the start line for the Pontevedra Grand Final, but 2016 Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen is keeping her Paris hopes alive. The American took a big win at the World Triathlon Cup Valencia running to a 16-second victory over Germany’s Nina Lim and Marlene Gomez-Goggle.
Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen returns to triathlon for run at Paris Games
Lead group
Jorgensen set the stage for the win thanks to a great swim that saw her exit the water seven seconds behind swim leader Julien Vermeylen (BEL). She then sat in the big lead group of 22 riders.
That big group hit T2 together, turning the race into a 10 km footrace, which suited Jorgensen just fine. With two laps to go Jorgensen made her move and easily pulled clear, cruising to the win in 1:55:01.
- Gwen Jorgensen (USA), 1:55:01
- Nina Eim (GER), 1:55:17
- Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER), 1:55:24
- Noelia Juan ESP01:55:38
- Jolien Vermeylen BEL01:56:06
“I came out here and I really wanted to focus on the process and performance, more so than the place,” Jorgensen said after the race. “Getting back in the sport after seven years is not easy, I forgot the difference between open water and pool swimming and I am excited, I know my fitness is there in the swim and now I know how to execute it,” she explained after her victory.”
“Only one (US) person qualified in the Paris Test Event and there’s another qualifying event in Pontevedra but I am not on the start list but I am here and I just know that every race I get into, I am going to show up and give my best,” she contined.
The American team will hand out one automatic qualifying slot to an athlete who finishes on the podium at the Pontevedra race later this month. If that spot isn’t handed out, two spots will be up for grabs, likely at a designated event next year. That means Jorgensen remains very much in the running for a spot on the team in Paris.
Cantero takes men’s race
David Cantero delighted the Spanish crowd on hand in Valencia by taking the men’s win. It was the first World Cup win for the 20-year-old. He outsprinted Germany’s Lasse Nygaard-Priester for the win, while Italy’s Michele Sarzilla took third.
