Gwen Jorgensen keeps winning streak alive at World Triathlon Series Gold Coast

Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) kept that winning feeling going in the third round of the World Triathlon Series on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Jorgensen kept her record-breaking unbeaten streak intact, taking her eighth consecutive World Triathlon Series win in Australia. While Brownlee’s was just his second win in a row, after also taking out the title in Auckland two weekends ago, it set an impressive benchmark for the upcoming season.

Women’s Review

An uncontested run to the finish line saw Gwen Jorgensen (USA) grab another slice of ITU history as she claimed her eighth consecutive WTS victory on Saturday at the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast. The victory marked the longest-running WTS streak of any elite woman since the inception of the series.

Joining her on the podium were fellow Americans Sarah True (silver) and Katie Zaferes (bronze) in a USA clean sweep which is the first time a National Federation has made up the entire podium since WTS Hamburg in 2011 when Australians Emma Moffatt, Emma Snowsill and Emma Jackson stood together.

“I don’t think you ever have a perfect race but I was certainly thrilled to come out of the water and be in the front pack right away. I mean one, two, three for Team USA, I don’t think you can get any better standing on the podium and looking over and seeing the other two girls and hearing the national anthem, we could not ask for anything more,” said Jorgensen.

“I look back and some of the triathlon legends and it doesn’t seem like I am at that level at all because I just try to come in here and do my best.”

Jorgensen wore the number two today after the number one spot was allocated to the late Jackie Fairweather, in a special tribute to the ITU World Champion who passed away in 2014.

The two-lap swim did little to break up the women but a quick transition saw a tight-knit lead group of eight form at the front of the flat and very technical 40-kilometre bike course. The tough course caused some early casualty’s including Australian Natalie van Coevorden. The front group included Lucy Hall (GBR), Flora Duffy (BER), Jorgensen, Zaferes, True, Rebecca Clarke (NZL), Pamella Oliveira (BRA) and Jessica Learmonth (GBR).

A large chase group, led interchangeably by Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle and Emma Moffatt tried desperately to gain time but entering the second transition, the gap was still around one-minute.

Her remarkable effort on the first two disciplines set her up perfectly to then unleash her weapon on the run. She cruised across the finish line to earn the gold medal at 1:56:59. Despite having to serve a 15-second penalty for a transition infringement, Jorgensen still executed a standout run to keep her perfect 2015 season intact and win her third WTS race of the year. It means she has a perfect score at the top of the Columbia Threadneedle rankings after three rounds.

2015 ITU World Triathlon Gold Coast – April 11

1500m swim – 40km bike – 10km run – Final Results – Elite Women