Gwen Jorgensen has revealed that she turned down multiple offers from the PTO to race the T100 Tour after missing out on the American team for the Olympic Games triathlon in Paris next month.
The 2016 Olympic gold medalist, who was overlooked for the two discretionary slots available alongside Taylor Knibb for France, shared the news in her most recent YouTube video.
Stating that she has “never been in the sport for the money”, the 38-year-old revealed her plans for the rest of the 2024 season and beyond.
Jorgensen on PTO offers for T100 Tour
Explaining her justification for turning down a chance to race on the T100 Tour, Jorgensen said she had been encouraged to race, but wasn’t interested in stepping up in distance.
“I’ve had a lot of people asking me if I’ll go to long course, asking why not the T100 and saying I’d be great at it and that it’s the perfect distance. They [PTO] offered me a lot of money to do it this year, they offered it earlier in the year, and I said no way.
“They offered it after not being selected for the Olympics and it’s just not something I am interested in right now and I’m going to pass on that for the year.”
Sticking to her guns, the American plans on staying the course with her return to short course and said that it has a lot to do with the things that really motivate her.
“I’ve never been in sport for the money and I made way less money by switching to running. I could do the T100 and get paid way more right now, but I’ve chosen not to do that for the money either.
“I really am motivated by being bold, being adaptable and being curious, plus being a role model to my children, that’s something that really motivates me, makes me happy and keeps me enjoying this process.”
Gwen 2025 plan revealed
On the topic of what comes next after the Olympic disappointment, Jorgensen underlined her ambitions to compete for the WTCS title in 2025, which had been part of her long-term plan since last season.
“Before all this, last year when I was competing and wasn’t able to get into WTCS races, I talked a lot about what I wanted to do, […], I’ve wanted to finish the 2024 season and go after the World Championship in 2025 and that’s always been on my radar since last year.
“I am going to finish out this WTCS season, there’s a race in Hamburg, China and the Grand Final in Spain, and then I’ll compete next year as well in the WTCS circuit.”
Asked if a home Olympic Games at LA 2028 is on the radar, the former world champion said it was too soon to decided, and that until then, she will just continue to enjoy racing.
Valiant bid for Paris 2024
Jorgensen’s valiant bid to make the US team for Paris 2024 saw her take in a challenging global travel schedule in 2023 as she tried to claim enough points to ensure starts in crucial WTCS races.
In the end, selection was finally decided on the back of WTCS Yokohama in May, the race earmarked by selectors as the one they would put most store in when making their final decisions.
It was Taylor Spivey (4th) and Kirsten Kasper (5th) who finished as the best Americans that day and it was they who were given those discretionary slots for Paris. Jorgensen meanwhile would finish 15th and miss out on another Olympic bid.
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