Heel surgery will prevent the USA’s Olympic triathlon gold medallist and two time world triathlon champion, Gwen Jorgensen, from competing at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Wollongong, Australia, in October, but she will be keeping her eye on all the action in her former “hometown”.

Jorgensen’s fond memories and strong connection to the Illawarra began in 2012, joining the world famous “Wollongong Wizards” training squad and using the amazing local training facilities as a base for her two World Triathlon Championship wins in 2014 and 2015 and her assault on the 2016 Rio Olympics in Rio.

“Wollongong is like a second home for me and my husband, Patrick, we spent four years there. We rented a granny flat from our friends the Allans and I remember going to local restaurants like Pot of Gold and being welcomed by the owner Fernando. The people in Wollongong were amazing and very welcoming and
besides driving down the opposite side of the road, it really felt like home to us.”

“Wollongong is such a beautiful place to host the final I know that the city is going to do a great job. I was really looking forward to returning this year, but it was important to have the surgery now to prepare for 2026 and beyond. I will miss not being able to return and racing but I will definitely be there in spirit, cheering everyone on from afar,” she said.

Gwen’s advice for the athletes and supporters visiting Wollongong is to embrace the local culture, the cafes and restaurants, the outstanding training facilities and most importantly have fun.

“World champs are special and it is different, way different than a regular race. As the last race of the season, everyone really builds up for it and it is ‘the’ focus. To have the final in Wollongong is pretty cool and I know the locals will come out and watch and cheer everyone on. The course is spectacular going up to the lighthouse and back and there are so many great places for spectators to line the course.”

“When I go to races, I like to experience places through riding, running, swimming, and eating. So, enjoy the city because Wollongong really is a beautiful place. Go to North Beach, enjoy a swim in the ocean, go to Diggies and have a nice coffee and ride up Mount Keira, if your training plan allows.”

“One of my favourite training venues was the Continental Pool, it is just surreal. I love the backdrop and everything about it. It doesn’t matter how tired you are, you go there you get motivated to train because it’s just so beautiful. Do all the things a local would do and just have fun while you’re there.”

Having lived and trained in Wollongong for many years, Gwen knows what is required to win in the “Gong” and believes there is a genuine hometown advantage in terms of the course and the ability of a local crowd to inspire a local victory.

“When I saw the course, I immediately knew that swim. We used to swim in that Harbour and every year we did an Aquathon there. The swim is in the Harbour, but it is still the ocean and there is some beach running to add into the equation as well. I know that little riser up to the lighthouse, so, to know those roads and to know what the gradient is helpful.”

“So, I think the people who have grown up practising those skills or who have raced on, run, ridden and already swum on the course will definitely a hometown advantage,” she said.

Other former Wollongong Wizards who may be lining up in Wollongong Aussies Aaron Royle, Ashleigh Gentle (in the T100 event) and Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk.

“In reality, in both the men and the women’s event there are four or five that that could win on the day. But I think the course really favours a strong runner. There’s
that hill, which is not that steep on the bike, but it is steep to run. So, I think it’s going to take a runner with speed but one who also has a lot of strength on the day.”

“In the women’s field, it is hard to look past Cassandre Beaugrand, but she’s got a lot of competition. For the men, it’s hard not to back a home country favourite in Matt Hauser who has been on fire this season, or one of the other Aussies having a great race,” Gwen said.

The 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals Wollongong are proudly supported by the New South Wales Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.