Gwen Jorgensen
A former accountant who retooled her life to dominate triathlon, ending a 16-year Olympic drought for the USA with a historic gold.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American triathlete·Birthday: April 25·Millennials
Biography
Gwen Jorgensen didn't follow a typical athletic fairytale. She was a collegiate swimmer and runner at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but her post-grad path led to a desk job as a CPA at Ernst & Young. That all changed when USA Triathlon, scouting for raw talent, identified her through a collegiate recruitment program. Thrust into a grueling new sport, Jorgensen applied the same methodical precision she used in accounting to her training. The results were meteoric. She rose to world number one, stringing together an unprecedented winning streak on the ITU World Triathlon circuit. The pinnacle came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she executed a flawless race, crushing the field on the run to claim America's first-ever triathlon gold medal. Never content, Jorgensen later embarked on an audacious second act, attempting to make the U.S. Olympic team in marathon running, showcasing the relentless drive that defined her.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Gwen was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gwen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Gwen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the women's triathlon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first for the United States in the event.
- Secured back-to-back ITU World Triathlon Series championships in 2014 and 2015.
- Set a record by winning 12 consecutive ITU World Triathlon Series races between 2014 and 2016.
Did You Know?
She was working as a certified public accountant (CPA) when she was first recruited into triathlon.
She and her husband, former pro cyclist Patrick Lemieux, often traveled in a camper van to World Series events.
After her triathlon career, she pursued professional marathon running with the goal of making the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.
She originally went to college on a swimming scholarship.
“I think the biggest thing is just believing in yourself and knowing that you put in the work.”
