Search
shop

Gwen Jorgensen on big DQ call in Chile: “This is not the way that you want to win a race.”

Former Olympic champion with her reaction to a day of high drama in Chile.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Gwen Jorgensen said she decided to trust herself rather than follow the four leaders when they took what proved a race-ending route over the finish line midway through the run at World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar in Chile on Sunday.

Katie Zaferes, Tereza Zimovjanova, Anna Godoy and Mathilde Gautier would go on to finish first, second, fourth and fifth respectively but it was Jorgensen – who charged up to third on the final lap – who was awarded the win when all four were disqualified due to taking the wrong turn.

‘We all knew the course and the map’

Vina del Mar was Jorgensen’s fourth World Cup victory of a season where she has podiumed in six of her seven World Cups on her return to the sport.

But the 2016 Rio Olympics champion told World Triathlon afterwards: “This is not the way that you want to win a race, I would have much rather raced to the line on a fair competition.

“But we all knew the course and the map.

When I saw them going straight I was very confused, I didn’t know why they were going that way and didn’t know what to do, but I decided to trust myself.

“I told myself that I know the course and I just should follow the course, and I took a longer line. It is a really unfortunate situation and we are all sad about it.”

Giving it her all

Equally though there were plenty more positives for Jorgensen to take from her own performance as she bids to make the US Olympics team for Paris next year.

She added: “I had a good race. My swim was almost there. I’m coming from a lot of racing and I feel like I haven’t had the chance of training, I’m always either racing, recovering or traveling, with so many trips that I had to do to get points.

“But I gave everything I had until the end, and I am proud of that.”

It took three hours for the medal ceremony to take place in Chile, with original sixth Gina Sereno and seventh Vicky Holland joining Jorgensen on the podium.

Gina Sereno Gwen Jorgensen Vicky Holland World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mer podium 2023Gina Sereno Gwen Jorgensen Vicky Holland World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mer podium 2023
[Photo credit: World Triathlon / Wagner Araujo]

‘My heart goes out to those penalised’

Course knowledge was important for runner-up Sereno, who also got silver in Vina del Mar last year, and who was second in the Pan American Games Mixed Relay over the route a week before.

Talking about the incident, Sereno said: “We heard people yelling at us ‘izquierda, izquierda’ – left, in Spanish – and I was familiar with the course, because I had done it last week and also last year. But these type of things are mentioned usually in the race briefing.

“My heart goes to those who are being penalised for this, because they were at the front, they were dominating the race and we don’t want to be on the podium because of this but at the same time we all have to follow the rules.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
PremiumExpert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
Start list for IRONMAN Lake Placid REVEALED – and it’s stacked with world class names
Julie Derron wins T100 San Francisco 2025
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz 2025: Olympic star wins by MORE than half an hour for first full-distance win
Matt Hauser Linn Jeffcoat Willian Australia win Mixed Relay WTCS Hamburg 2025
WTCS Hamburg 2025 Mixed Relay World Championship: Hauser anchors Australia to glory
Kat Matthews wins IRONMAN 703 Swansea 2025 finish line
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2025 women’s results: Kat Matthews a class apart
Harry Palmer wins IRONMAN 703 Swansea 2025
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2025 men’s results: Britain’s Harry Palmer defends title in style
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...