133. Gwen Jorgensen, Runner & Olympic Gold Medalist
Hurdle with Emily Abbate
iHeartPodcasts
4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 19 October 2020
⏱️ 72 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When Gwen Jorgensen graduated from the University of Wisconsin, she had every intention of becoming a CPA. Within a year of working, she did her first triathlon, doing well enough to achieve elite status. Before she knew it, she had qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and life was never really the same. In episode 133, Gwen talks to me about the #hurdlemoment of navigating a flat tire in London, causing her to come in 38th place, and inspiring her to work harder than ever to make it back to the olympic stage in 2016. We talk about the big life decisions she had to make to follow that dream, including a move abroad and the relentless support of her partner Patrick, and what it was like to be the first woman to win Olympic gold in triathlon. Of course, we also get into her decision to leave triathlon for running full-time, what life’s like in Portland right now, and how motherhood and injury have both played big roles in her recent training.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We all have our own stuff in our life and we can't worry about trying to please others. |
| 0:05.3 | I think if we have the right heart and intentions, you don't need to say yes to everything. |
| 0:11.2 | You need to do what's best with your long-term goals and self and well-being. Hey, everyone. Emily Abadi here bringing you episode 1.33 of Hurtle. |
| 0:37.3 | A wellness-focused podcast where I sit down with inspiring |
| 0:40.4 | individuals to talk about everything from their big wins to how they've gotten through some of |
| 0:44.8 | life's toughest moments. On the show, you can expect vulnerability, motivation, and candid |
| 0:51.0 | discussions with everyone from top athletes to aspiring entrepreneurs on what it really |
| 0:56.2 | takes to follow your passions. |
| 0:58.6 | My mission is simple. |
| 1:00.6 | To inspire you to be your best self, move with intention, and have some fun along the way. |
| 1:07.7 | For today's episode, I am chatting with the ever-lovely Gwen Jorgensen. She is an American |
| 1:14.4 | distance runner and former pro triathlet. We met shortly after she won gold at the 2016 Olympics |
| 1:21.4 | in Rio. I was still working at Self Magazine at the time. And honestly, I've just been such a |
| 1:27.1 | fan girl ever since. In today's episode, |
| 1:29.9 | we talk about how Gwen had very, very different career aspirations. She wanted to be a CPA |
| 1:36.4 | after attending college at the University of Wisconsin. And about a year into that career, |
| 1:42.6 | she attempted her first triathlon, doing well enough to achieve elite status. |
| 1:48.1 | Before she knew it, she had qualified for the 2020 Olympics, and life was never the same. |
| 1:54.8 | Gwen talks to me about the hurdle moment of navigating a flat tire situation in London, causing her to come in 38th place and inspiring her to work harder than ever to make it back to the Olympic stage in 2016. |
| 2:08.5 | We talk about the big life decisions she had to make to follow that dream, including a move abroad and the relentless support of her partner, Patrick. and what it was like also to be the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the triathlon. |
| 2:25.9 | Of course, we also get into her more recent decision to leave triathlon for distance running and what life is like in Portland right now and how she feels about training |
| 2:34.9 | with the Bowerman Track Club. This episode is full of goodness. Before we end to the spring of things, |
... |
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