Olympics-Triathlon-Jorgensen set to be her sport’s first crossover star (Reuters)
By Mitch Phillips RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 20 (Reuters) – Gwen Jorgensen is poised to become triathlon’s first real crossover star after her Olympic victory on Saturday propelled the American from the sporting backwaters to front-cover status. Jorgensen has been the dominant force in women’s triathlon for two years but ITU circuit wins in far-flung corners of the world meant she remained well under the radar in a country awash with world-class talent in sports that dominate the airwaves. While triathlon names such as Mark Allen and Dave Scott pricked the American public consciousness through their prodigious achievements at the Hawaii Ironman in the 1980s and 1990s, the shorter version of the sport has always been something of a niche attraction.