We are celebrating the release of ‘Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete’ – and guess who’s here chatting with us?
Gwen joins us today along with Nancy and Elizabeth who co-authored the book. Welcome!
Q
It has to be said before we go any further – this is pretty much a family affair isn’t it?
Elizabeth: Yes! We all worked together to write Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete. We wanted to give middle grade or young adult readers a front-row seat at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Nancy: We wanted to show that any kid can have big dreams. So we worked together to tell Gwen’s story—of setting a goal, and then experiencing lots of disappointment and failure, but also progress and growth.
Gwen: I hope my story inspires young people to chase their goals, but most importantly, to enjoy the process.
Q
And congratulations Gwen – the family has grown a little since the book went to print?
Gwen: I just gave birth to my son, George. I also have a five-year-old son, Stanley.
Q
And of course Nancy and Elizabeth have written for us before with ‘Go Gwen Go!’ – about the whole family’s journey to Gwen’s Olympic Gold. It’s incredibly inspiring and you don’t have to be sporty at all to enjoy it. The reviews are fantastic. That must feel pretty amazing Nancy and Elizabeth?
Nancy: We thought Gwen’s path to success was unique and that it could be an inspiring story. When USA Triathlon first recruited Gwen, she told them she wasn’t interested. Gwen was a standout runner, but a poor collegiate swimmer and she had never owned a road bike. USA Triathlon eventually convinced her and then within two years, she qualified for the Olympics. After suffering a flat tire in London 2012, she announced her intent to win gold in Rio. So much about the Olympic journey surprised us—the training, travel, financing, drug testing, physical recovery, politics and personalities. We wanted to share some of that hidden world.
Elizabeth: I’m a high school English teacher and I ask my students to scour their lives for dramatic moments, emotional scenes or frightening experiences and to write their own stories. I tell them if they write well a publisher may want to share their stories with the world. When Gwen qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games, suffered a flat tire, and proclaimed her goal to win gold in 2016, I took my own advice. But the tale was so big I needed a book, and that’s when my mom and I partnered to tell our family’s story.
Q
Can you tell us a little bit more about this latest book?
Elizabeth: We wrote Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete in hopes of inspiring students to pursue their passion and try new things. We hope young people who read this book will explore their own talents, set goals, and find good people to work with. We hope readers find a passion and take risks, knowing it won’t always work out, but there is joy in the process of pursuing an ambition.
Q
And it’s been out in the US for a few months now – how is it being received?
Nancy: Readers tell us they love the “Letters to the Reader” and Gwen’s “Letters to Her Younger Self.” Gwen becomes the reader’s personal mentor, sharing her private thoughts and advice.
Elizabeth: Teachers are excited about the free Educator Guide, where we include discussion questions, activities, and worksheets related to the book. We are also offering no-fee author talks to sport groups, classrooms and book clubs.
Q
What was behind your decision to aim this one at a younger audience?
Gwen: I would not have become a triathlete if not for others believing in me. I hope by reading this book, young people are motivated to find a mentor, someone who believes in them. And then, I hope they pay it forward and mentor someone else. Encourage others to do hard things. Seeing someone else succeed will catapult belief in yourself.
Q
Was it hard to strike a balance between what went in and what didn’t? This one is perhaps for Gwen – sorry Gwen but we have to ask – was there anything you fought your corner on to stop going in the book? Anything particularly embarrassing? There’s plenty of us out here who can’t begin to imagine letting their mum and sister – albeit established authors – write about them? 🙂
Gwen: I’ve included my scholarship and graduate school essays. I included blog entries and emails. There are also journal entries. I never dreamed some of that would ever be public, but it’s good for kids to see that no one is perfect—even an Olympian. I wanted to show how to use a journal daily, as a way to not only track my progress but also to learn, grow, and create confidence. I used to self-sabotage through both my thoughts and actions; however, through journaling, I’ve learned to write down three things I’ve done well every day. This builds confidence and gives me the tools I need when doubts creep in. Writing is a powerful tool for both self-discovery and accountability.
Q
What are the practical logistics of actually writing together? You don’t all live in the same house anymore so how do you go about the process?
Elizabeth: Mom and I worked as Gwen’s ghost writer.
Nancy: Gwen drove this book. She really wanted to write this to inspire young people.
Elizabeth: And Mom, you were the mastermind between the two timelines.
Nancy: We use one thread to track the days leading up to and including Gwen’s Rio victory. The second thread follows her journey from average school kid to elite athlete.
Elizabeth, you came up with the idea of including letters written by Gwen. It is brilliant because several times, Gwen speaks directly to the reader. She also writes letters to younger self, and we see her innermost thoughts, as a budding champion and as an accomplished athlete.
Q
Do you think the books have brought you closer together? Or not perhaps?? 🙂
Elizabeth: Writing is a passion project. It’s not what we do for employment or even something that’s lucrative. Writing is the thing Gwen, Mom and I do together. We’re not all doing triathlons, but we are all writing. I enjoy getting together, to enjoy a meal and also to edit sections. I love when we drive to libraries or conferences to talk about the book. These are amazing memories we’re building as a family.
Q
One for those of us who have sisters – Gwen and Elizabeth – do you fight?
Gwen: When we were little, we used to argue. Now that we’re older, we don’t. Elizabeth really is my biggest fan.
Elizabeth: We can annoy each other, but I’m not envious of Gwen’s achievements or jealous of her fame. I get asked all the time if I’m jealous of Gwen. I can’t be jealous because I know how much time and dedication it takes to be at the top. I am a Gwen Jorgensen superfan and her biggest admirer.
Q
Are there plans for more? Competitions, Gwen – what are your next competition plans? Babies of course … Gwen?? And of course book babies?
Gwen: This is a great idea! Stanley loves to read books. I will see if Mom and Elizabeth want to work on a baby book. Do you think we have a publisher in Meyer & Meyer?
Thank you so much for your time Gwen, Elizabeth and Nancy. Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete is available now – on both sides of the pond – from all good bookstores and online retailers. As is ‘Go Gwen Go!’
