She's an olympic gold medalist. I don't know why this board continues to treat her as if she's some clueless idiot. She's doing what she loves and is making money for it.
Yes AND what difference does it make to anyone on these boards if someone stops competing or continues as they get older and slower?
They can race or not no matter what and if someone gives them money for it- good for them.
Also, just speaking generally on this topic: This board seems to love to hate Jorgensen. But I have a fair amount of sympathy for athletes caught in this exact career moment. She won the gold in tri, took a big swing and shifted exclusively to running, and chose to chronicle the journey for public consumption and sponsor income, like any professional athlete might. The big swing didn't work out, and now she's in the twilight of her career at 36 and knows it -- but she's also built an audience and an income stream that depends on living in public to a degree. This is a fascinating, bittersweet transitional time for any professional athlete at any level, and making that pivot is an art form. I wish her well.
I’ll never understand why this type of content is considered eyeball-worthy, but presumably they see it as worth the effort and second-hand cringe, so each to their own I suppose.
Also, just speaking generally on this topic: This board seems to love to hate Jorgensen. But I have a fair amount of sympathy for athletes caught in this exact career moment. She won the gold in tri, took a big swing and shifted exclusively to running, and chose to chronicle the journey for public consumption and sponsor income, like any professional athlete might. The big swing didn't work out, and now she's in the twilight of her career at 36 and knows it -- but she's also built an audience and an income stream that depends on living in public to a degree. This is a fascinating, bittersweet transitional time for any professional athlete at any level, and making that pivot is an art form. I wish her well.
1) in fact very few pro's at all would chronicle it like this for public consumption - name me a successful pro athlete who has a youtube account? Morgan McDonald? Only did it in his down time whilst injured and now not often Clayton Murphy? Hasn't been anywhere near his peak whilst vlogging Charles Hicks? Not pro.
2) the swing was never going to work out. Going from a different sport, to an Elite Marathoner meant she could follow very easily in the footsteps of........of........... We're talking about someone with one of the worst running forms, going into the one event you need to conserve energy the most.
3) I don't think she knows she's in the twilight of her career, she's in denial about it. She even mentioned being able to bounce back to be competitive at the OLY Trials?? It wont work, especially from someone who is already so far behind her peers. Gwen Jorgensen vs. Emily Sisson or Molly Seidel anywhere from 10K-Marathon? Shambles.
4) This YouTube account is not a noteworthy income stream, it's purely for gathering a fanbase, though I appreciate you might have meant the exposure would help her with a sponsor - to which I say - 'but it has to ALSO be coupled with decent results'.
5) I can understand maybe wanting to 'go out on top' (of Tri), but Gwen was also someone that (by her own admission) multi sport came more naturally to. She wasnt a stud in college, didnt prosper under the regime of Jerry (bar one indoor 15:10 which is barely quicker than what the NCAA girls are running) and since leaving has lurched from soft workout to soft workout and scratching her head why she keeps under performing.
All that and I didnt even mention her claiming she would be the Marathon Champion...dammit.
I am Gwen Jorgensen, 2016 Rio Olympic Champion in the triathlon. I am currently training for the Track Olympic Trials. Subscribe to follow along on my journe...
It would be pretty cool if it did work out. You need 2 Olympic cycles really to get into form and be consistent with 100+ mileage per week. This is enough time to get back into shape before 2024 trials without surplus time to get injured. Pregnancy is like Schrodinger's cat. Keeps the dream alive.
I don't think she has the speed or change in gears to become relevant in the marathon cause the times even from when she first announced her Tokyo goal have changed so much. But I think she adds to an interesting mix of women in different stages of life. Aliphine and Molly Huddle will be back from having kids. Sara Hall, Molly Seidel, Emily Sisson, Emma Bates, Nell Rojas and probably 6 more viable names by then will be in the mix.
And on the world stage, I wonder if Tirunesh Dibaba will come back.
I'd just remind some of you haters that she ran 53:13 in the U.S. 10 mile championship back in 2016 - a few months after the Olympics. That was an amazing performance off of a strictly tri background. So it was reasonable to wonder just how good she could be if she concentrated on running.
Also, just speaking generally on this topic: This board seems to love to hate Jorgensen. But I have a fair amount of sympathy for athletes caught in this exact career moment. She won the gold in tri, took a big swing and shifted exclusively to running, and chose to chronicle the journey for public consumption and sponsor income, like any professional athlete might. The big swing didn't work out, and now she's in the twilight of her career at 36 and knows it -- but she's also built an audience and an income stream that depends on living in public to a degree. This is a fascinating, bittersweet transitional time for any professional athlete at any level, and making that pivot is an art form. I wish her well.
Good post.
I have a feeling that a lot of posters react negatively to the intense level of narcissism in her "brand" -- especially the videos. But she's just following the standard, proven template for making a living wage as an athlete (i.e. entertainer). As the saying goes: don't hate the player; hate the game.
Gwen's not stupid; she absolutely understands that her competitive athletic career is 100% finished. But her career as a athletic-themed social media entertainer is far from over. And, paradoxically, it should actually pick up steam during pregnancy (re: Allyson Felix).
I actually like Gwen and enjoy watching her YouTube videos. But she is delusional if she thinks she has a chance at the Olympic marathon. She seems like a nice person and prioritizes her son and family. I think she is just riding the influencer wagon as long as possible. Maybe she will be offered a position commentating l like Dez, and Kara, and we'll now Tom.
This 100%! Her content is so bad on all SM platforms its just cringeworthy. There is nothing valuable she could offer of value to anyone trying to improve their running...poor form, bad race results, injury after injury. Can she finally just stop!
today's Youtube video was her literally going after a 0.49mi strava segment like a high school boy... so she's about as far away from getting an Olympic gold in the marathon as you can get...
just had a look at this... aiming to run 0.47M @ 5:24/M so a bit shorter than a 2:41/800... from a 15:03 athlete, in Alphaflys.
Covid recovery or not, that is an insane new depth to stoop to for YouTube views & convincing yourself this is adequate training
Everyone is trying to get famous quickly and noticed...it's the path to connections, money and security.
It would be pretty cool if it did work out. You need 2 Olympic cycles really to get into form and be consistent with 100+ mileage per week. This is enough time to get back into shape before 2024 trials without surplus time to get injured. Pregnancy is like Schrodinger's cat. Keeps the dream alive.
I don't think she has the speed or change in gears to become relevant in the marathon cause the times even from when she first announced her Tokyo goal have changed so much. But I think she adds to an interesting mix of women in different stages of life. Aliphine and Molly Huddle will be back from having kids. Sara Hall, Molly Seidel, Emily Sisson, Emma Bates, Nell Rojas and probably 6 more viable names by then will be in the mix.
And on the world stage, I wonder if Tirunesh Dibaba will come back.
I wonder how Allie Kieffer fits into the mix. I respect her drive as well, she had a weird journey and tried to make a go of it. For a brief moment, it wasn't Camelot...but it was NYC for Allie.
I actually like Gwen and enjoy watching her YouTube videos. But she is delusional if she thinks she has a chance at the Olympic marathon. She seems like a nice person and prioritizes her son and family. I think she is just riding the influencer wagon as long as possible. Maybe she will be offered a position commentating l like Dez, and Kara, and we'll now Tom.
If she's connected enough and gets a commentating gig, she won't be as famous as a runner anymore but she'll have a comfortable life the rest of the way...even in the worst economy since 1981.
It's entirely odd to make a youtube video of chasing down a random 1/2 mile segment in front of burnt down houses in suburbia. Her marketing is just plain weird and not sure who she's trying to market to.
I get you but the homes looked like vacation homes, not burned out ones.