Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Waukesha native Gwen Jorgensen won America’s first gold in women’s triathlon at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. When the UW-Madison grad stood on the podium that day, a nation celebrated. None were happier than her devoted family.

Mother Nancy Jorgensen and sister Elizabeth Jorgensen will be at the Fond du Lac Public Library at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, to talk about Gwen and their new book, Go, Gwen, Go: A Family’s Journey to Olympic Gold. The duo will talk about the team effort behind Gwen’s amazing achievements and will sell and sign copies of their book. The event is free; no registration required.

The book brings readers into the worlds of Olympic training, professional coaching, international travel, sponsor funding, anti-doping requirements, athlete nutrition and sports physiotherapy. It recounts how Gwen dealt with the transition from CPA in Milwaukee to professional athlete, balancing training and global competitions with family crises and commitments.

Nancy Jorgensen is the author of two music education books, essays and an Olympic blog published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Elizabeth Jorgensen teaches creative writing, composition and journalism at Arrowhead High School.

In the photo: The Jorgensen family gathers with Gwen right after she won the women’s triathlon gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. From left: Patrick Lemieux (Gwen's husband), Joel Jorgensen, Nancy Jorgensen, Gwen Jorgensen and Elizabeth Jorgensen.