Gwen Jorgensen poised for top prize at International Triathlon Union final

Heading into Friday’s International Triathlon Union grand final, American Gwen Jorgensen is ranked first in the world and poised to take the top prize. Jorgensen won every triathlon she entered this season, including the Rio test event in late August.

She leads a group of American women who have owned the sport this season. Katie Zaferes is ranked second in the world, while 2012 Olympian Sarah True is third.

“We realize what a special moment it is for the U.S. women to be ranked 1-2-3, but really it is indicative of how strong the program is,” True said. “We have quite a few women who have been on the podium this season, even in some of the smaller races.”

Jorgensen changed her training regimen before this season, choosing to train in Spain and Australia. When she arrived in Chicago for this week’s race, it was her first time on American soil in nine months.

“Katie, Sarah and I all want to do well. We all want to be best in the world. There’s different avenues to get there,” said Jorgensen, who has won 11 consecutive World Triathlon Series races. “We’ve invested in our triathlon careers. You see the U.S. is really performing, and I think it’s because everyone is investing in their own career.”

USA Triathlon is also investing in its future in a sport that joined the Olympic program in 2000. With the collegiate athlete recruitment program, the sport’s national governing body looks for collegiate swimmers and runners who have a background in the other sport and recruits and mentors them.

An accomplished runner at Syracuse, Zafares was recruited and is now one of the world’s top triathletes. She knows her teammates — and biggest competitors — opened the door for her.

“Greatness follows greatness. Sarah and Gwen really set the bar high for us, and we really want to reach that. From what they’ve accomplished, us younger ones are benefitting because we have funded programs,” Zaferes said.

Jorgensen and True clinched their spots on the 2016 Olympic team with their performances in the Rio test event. Zaferes will have to wait to try and earn the final Olympic spot next season.

Qualifying nearly a year before the Olympics means Jorgensen and True can focus their training on the Rio course. But before next summer’s Games, all three women need to get through Friday’s triathlon (1,500-meter swim, 40K bike race, 10K run), which features a swim in Lake Michigan, and a bike course with several turns through corners along the city’s lakefront.

Jorgensen just needs to finish the race to win the season title. Despite her impressive winning streak, she knows a win isn’t pre-ordained.

“I’ve had a pretty good string of races, but in 2013 in London, I came into the race and I felt ready to go, but I ended up crashing and didn’t finish,” Jorgensen said. “The year before that, in the Olympics, I got a flat tire. Anything can happen on race day.”