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How did a 23-year-old accountant become an Olympic qualifier? Here’s how she did it

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Gwen had a passion for swimming and running, but after graduation, she settled into a job preparing corporate taxes.

After a so-so swim in London ’s Serpentine and a mediocre bike leg that circled Buckingham Palace , Gwen executed a come-from-behind run that propelled her to a second -place finish.

Gwen won the silver medal in the triathlon just one year ago , one year after winning the silver.

She decided to join a training group in Australia to compete in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 .

The dangers of training — a torn muscle or fractured bone — worried me. But Gwen had considered potential problems. She left for Australia ready to devote every minute .

Nancy Jorgensen is a Wisconsin -based writer, educator and collaborative pianist.

Her most recent book is a middle-grade sports biography, “Gwen Jorgenson: USA ’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete ” ( Meyer & Meyer ) When they do something risky, I worry like I did about their mother.