Jorgensen finished the event with a time of one hour, 56 minutes and 16 seconds, finishing ahead of silver medalist Nicola Spirig Hug of Switzerland and bronze medalist Vicky Holland of Great Britain.
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Former Badger and Wisconsin-native Gwen Jorgensen became the first American to win a gold medal in the triathlon at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Four years ago at the 2012 Olympic Games, she suffered a flat tire and landed in 38th place.
Vicky Holland outsprinted British teammate Non Stanford to win the bronze (1h 57min 01s).
Spirig said later she had tried to play “mind games” with the American in the run by telling her to take some of the head-wind as the pair cleared from the chasing pack.
“I knew that I needed to be in a daily performance group where I was training basically with my direct competitors”, said Jorgensen.
On the first of four laps, Jorgensen darted to the lead. I knew she is an extremely strong runner, so I had to try everything, and I think I did all I could.
She said she was thinking of all the sacrifices, not just hers, but those of coach Jamie Turner and her husband, Patrick Lemieux, who abandoned his pro cycling career to serve as her operations manager. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be at another Olympics”.
“I keep crying for some reason”. “I think that’s something you have to be aware of and prepared for”. He’s given up his career to support me.
“I’ve said for four years that this is my goal, August 20, I want to cross that line, I want to get a gold medal”, Jorgensen said. It’s pretty incredible, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them’.
Switzerland’s Spirig had won out in one of London’s most thrilling finishes when she and Sweden’s Lisa Norden had broken the line together. It was Barb Lindquist, who was running USA Triathlon’s college recruitment program.
“It feels great to have someone from this small town do this huge worldwide thing”, she said.
Jorgensen set a record with 13 straight wins in the ITU’s World Triathlon Series from May 17, 2014 to April 3.
The bike is known as Jorgensen’s weakness in the triathlon, but Jorgensen handled the hills and turns of Rio easily, as she was in the top 10 for a majority of the race and ended the 40-kilometer ride in eighth.
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Spirig hung with Jorgensen for over three-quarters of the 10-kilometer run. By the end of the eight-lap, hilly bike course the lead off the front stood at nearly four minutes-making it clear that the three medalists would come from that lead pack.
