Professional triathlete, US National Team member and Olympian Gwen Jorgensen has launched a scholarship fund, with support from the USA Triathlon Foundation and Gwen’s wetsuit sponsor ROKA. The fund is for up-and-coming draft-legal triathletes or paratriathletes leading up to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship was created to assist junior draft-legal triathletes and paratriathletes in their pursuit of excellence in the sport. In 2014, US$15,000 and mentoring services with Jorgensen will be awarded to one or multiple applicants who demonstrate ‘financial need, creative use of funds and passion for the multisport lifestyle.’
Members of the multisport community, including athletes, coaches and race directors, are welcome to apply, but funding must be applied to programming, training or travel costs for junior triathletes aged 19 and under.
“With the goal of promoting excellence at an early age, I am excited to launch the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship this year,” Jorgensen said. “The triathlon community has supported me and instilled values of excellence since I was introduced to the sport in 2010. I want to do the same and give back to the next generation of potential triathlon stars. I especially appreciate ROKA and the USA Triathlon Foundation for their commitment to match my contribution.”
“We are honoured to be partnering with Gwen to establish this important scholarship, and to support our junior draft-legal triathletes as they pursue their Olympic dreams and quest to bring home the gold,” said Jacqueline McCook, President of the USA Triathlon Foundation.
“Gwen’s example and initiative tie directly with the Foundation’s mission of ‘Opening Pathways to Triathlon for All through the Generosity of Donors.’ We are thrilled to support this initiative.”
“We are honoured to support Gwen and her scholarship program,” added Rob Canales, Co-Founder and CEO of ROKA. “Gwen is a remarkable triathlete and person, one who is keenly aware that it takes support at many levels to achieve greatness. It speaks volumes for her character that so early in her career she wants to give back. We couldn’t be more pleased to help with that endeavour.”
Details on how to apply for the scholarship are available online as a downloadable PDF. Applications must be submitted to gwenjorgensenscholarship[at]gmail.com by 1 November 2014, and the scholarship will be awarded on 1 December.
Jorgensen, who competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games, is currently ranked number one in the world following four consecutive 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series wins in Hamburg, Chicago, London and Yokohama.
A former collegiate runner and swimmer, Jorgensen was introduced to draft-legal triathlon in 2010 through the USA Triathlon Collegiate Recruitment Program.
www.usatriathlon.org
www.gwenjorgensen.com
www.rokasports.com
