Greig Leach

When I was young, there was a weekly sports show that included the line, "the agony of defeat" in its introduction. Today, as I look at the clear suffering of Gwen Jorgensen as she crossed the finish line in the Women's Triathlon, I think it should be, "the agony of victory!" Jorgensen dropped the last competitor, Nicola Spirig (Switzerland) with about two kilometers left to run. The Swiss woman held on to her advantage over the rest of the field to claim Silver, but it was Jorgensen for the Gold. The first ever for an American woman in the Triathlon. She held onto the ribbon at the line, first clenching it to her knees as she tried to catch her breath, and then aloft in victory. I never did see her let go of it, I imagine it will be next to her Gold Medal in her trophy case back home.