Olympic gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen, two-time Olympian Laura Bennett, as well as age group multisport athletes Lesley Cens-McDowell and Robert Plant will be inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame. The athletes will be recognised at the 2022 BOA USA Triathlon Foundation Gala and Hall of Fame Induction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The gala is being hosted by the USA Triathlon Foundation on Thursday, August 4 in Milwaukee, in conjunction with the 2022 Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships taking place on August 6-7. The gala will be hosted at Discovery World, in The Pavilion, starting at 18:00 CT.
‘The USA Triathlon Hall Fame serves to recognize, honor 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.’
Co-hosted by Barry Siff and Michanda Myles, the gala’s festivities include a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a plated dinner, program and formal induction of the hall of famers. All proceeds from the gala benefit the USA Triathlon Foundation, which serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community and transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run.
“Whatever the level at which you compete, you want to get the absolute most out of it,” said Jon Pritchett, BOA President & CEO.
“BOA is about human optimization. At the elite level, BOA wants to help our athletes get on more podiums, but what we want to support more globally is performance optimization at every level and every age of triathlete.
“We hope our investment in the BOA USA Triathlon Foundation Gala and Hall of Fame ceremony can be a catalyst for America’s high-performance athletes and that such performance will inspire us all.”
USA Triathlon Hall of Fame members who will be in attendance include Mark Allen, Harriet Anderson, Bob Babbitt, Sister Madonna Buder, Sal Edwards, Hunter Kemper, Missy Lestrange, Karen McKeachie, Donna Smyers and Karen Smyers.
Individual tickets are US$125; and tables for 10 are available for US$1,000. The USA Triathlon Foundation is also hosting an online silent auction, with select Olympic and Paralympic memorabilia, available for bid through August 10.
Silent auction items include:
- Colorado Springs Para Resident Team experience – experience a day of training and workouts with the Toyota USA Paratriathlon Resident Team at the Colorado Springs Olympic and Paralympic Training Center
- World Championships VIP Package – includes one Team USA slot to the 2023 World Triathlon World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, two-month training plan and support from a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, dinner with the CEO and the USA Triathlon National Team competing at the World Triathlon World Championships
- Andy Potts Experience – two days of training with triathlete Andy Potts, including a swim and bike session and meals together
- Training with Project Podium – a full day with Project Podium, including a bike and run with elite athletes and head coach and USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach Parker Spencer
- Signed memorabilia – including framed and signed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympics US team posters; 2016 Rio Olympics triathlon suit (signed by US Olympians Joe Maloy, Gwen Jorgensen, Katie Zaferes, Sarah True, Ben Kanute and Greg Billington); 2012 London Olympics USA Triathlon Magazine cover (signed by Bennett, True, Huerta, Jorgensen, Kemper); 2008 Beijing Olympics triathlon suit (signed by Bennett, Julie Ertel, Sarah Haskins, Kemper, Matt Reed and Jarrod Shoemaker)
www.usatriathlonfoundation.org
