Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen, two-time Olympian Laura Bennett and age group multisport athletes Lesley Cens-McDowell and Robert Plant have been announced as the 11th induction class of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame.
‘The USA Triathlon Hall Fame serves to recognize, honour and commemorate those individuals and groups who have demonstrated excellence in every aspect of multisport – thereby inspiring others to elevate their own performance, participation and community involvement.
‘Founded in 2008, it has recognized the best performances and contributions in the sport’s nearly 50-year history. This year’s class brings the total number of inductees to 47.’
“We are so excited to add these iconic athletes to the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame,” said Steve Sutherland, Chair of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Executive Committee.
“Gwen’s incredible rise to becoming an Olympic gold medallist is a story for the ages, Laura twice represented the US at the Olympics and has given back to the multisport community following her professional career, and Lesley and Robert’s age group performances throughout their long triathlon careers show us multisport is truly a lifelong sport.
“On top of their individual accomplishments, each of our inductees impart a love and passion for triathlon that continues to greatly influence the triathlon community.”
The four inductees will be honoured at a premier gala hosted by the USA Triathlon Foundation on Thursday, August 4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in conjunction with the 2022 Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships on August 6-7.
The gala will be hosted at Discovery World, in the Roger & Judy Smith Family Pilot House, starting at 18:15 CT.
The festivities for the evening will include a VIP cocktail event, a Meet & Greet happy hour followed by a red carpet walk, dinner, presentation and awards and a silent auction.
All proceeds from the gala benefit the USA Triathlon Foundation, which serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback.
Individual tickets are US$125 and tables for 10 are available for US$1,000. Limited VIP tables and sponsorship opportunities are also available on a first come, first served basis. (Contact Gabe Cagwin, President of the USA Triathlon Foundation and USA Triathlon Chief Advancement Officer, via gabe.cagwin[at]usatriathlon.org.)
USA Triathlon Hall of Fame Inductees by Class:
Induction Class I (Induction ceremony held January 17, 2009, in Colorado Springs, CO)
Judy Flannery (Age-Group Athlete)
Jon Gray Noll (Contributor)
Verne Scott (Contributor)
Karen Smyers (Elite Athlete)
Sheila Taormina (Elite Athlete)
Induction Class II (Induction ceremony held February 13, 2010, in Colorado Springs, CO)
Jim Curl (Contributor)
Barb Lindquist (Elite Athlete)
Paula Newby-Fraser (Elite Athlete)
Valerie Silk (Contributor)
Carl Thomas (Contributor)
Induction Class III (Induction ceremony held January 15, 2011, in Colorado Springs, CO)
Susan Bradley-Cox (Age-Group Athlete)
Dave McGillivray (Contributor)
Dave Scott (Elite Athlete)
Induction Class IV (Induction ceremony held May 10, 2012, in San Diego, CA)
Mark Allen (Elite Athlete)
Ethel Autorino (Age-Group Athlete)
Bob Babbitt (Contributor)
Sally Edwards (Contributor)
Scott Molina (Elite Athlete)
Scott Tinley (Elite Athlete)
Induction Class V (Induction ceremony held April 18, 2013, in San Diego, CA)
Missy LeStrange (Age-Group Athlete)
Jim MacLaren (Contributor)
Julie Moss (Contributor)
Induction Class VI (Induction ceremony held June 26, 2014, in Chicago, IL)
Sister Madonna Buder (Age-Group Athlete)
John and Judy Collins (Contributors)
Mike Pigg (Elite Athlete)
Tom Warren (Contributor)
Induction Class VII (Induction ceremony held April 18, 2015, in Boston, MA)
Bill Bell (Age-Group Athlete)
Tim DeBoom (Elite Athlete)
Dan Empfield (Contributor)
Karen McKeachie (Age-Group Athlete)
Carlos Moleda (Age-Group Athlete)
Susan Williams (Elite Athlete)
Induction Class VIII (Induction ceremony held January 16, 2016, in Colorado Springs, CO)
Harriet Anderson (Age-Group Athlete)
Roger Brockenbrough (Age-Group Athlete)
Ken Glah (Elite Athlete)
Siri Lindley (Elite Athlete)
Induction Class IX (Induction ceremony held August 9, 2018, in Cleveland, OH)
Hunter Kemper (Elite Athlete)
Mike Reilly (Contributor)
Donna Smyers (Age-Group Athlete)
James Ward (Age-Group Athlete)
Induction Class X (induction ceremony held January 25, 2020, in Tempe, AZ)
Cherie Gruenfeld (Contributor)
Dick and Rick Hoyt (Age-Group Athletes)
Mike Plant (Contributor)
Induction Class XI (induction ceremony to be held August 4, 2022, in Milwaukee, WI)
Laura Bennett (Elite Athlete)
Lesley Cens-McDowell (Age Group Athlete)
Gwen Jorgensen (Elite Athlete)
Robert Plant (Age Group Athlete)
Beginning in 2016, the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame induction ceremony shifted to a biennial schedule.
