USA Triathlon Foundation Announces Second Class of Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund Recipients
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by USA Triathlon Foundation
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon Foundation today announced the second class of recipients of the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund.
A groundbreaking partnership with the USA Triathlon Foundation, the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund was created in 2025 in collaboration with Jorgensen and her husband, Patrick Lemieux, and community philanthropist Scott Filion, to support underserved children and youth entering the sport of triathlon. The 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Jorgensen has been inspiring new generations of triathletes for more than a decade.
This year, grant recipients will receive Canyon race bikes, further amplifying the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund’s mission to break down barriers to participation and make triathlon more accessible for youth athletes across the United States. The addition of Canyon race bikes to the Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund directly addresses the challenge of equipment costs for aspiring triathletes. For a young athlete just entering the sport, access to a Canyon race bike can be truly transformational, opening doors that may have previously seemed out of reach.
"One of the biggest challenges I faced when starting triathlon was gaining access to a bike,” said Jorgensen. “The support and generosity of USA Triathlon helped me enter the sport, and I’m grateful to be part of an initiative that helps create similar opportunities for young athletes today. Thank you to Canyon Bicycles and Scott Filion for their partnership in making this possible."
“The Gwen Jorgensen Scholarship Fund continues to create meaningful opportunities for young athletes to discover and thrive in triathlon,” said Jason Rizzi, USA Triathlon Foundation Chief Development Officer. “As we celebrate our second class of recipients, we are inspired by their enthusiasm, determination, and potential. Thanks to Gwen’s leadership and the support of our donors, we are helping remove barriers to participation and ensuring more youth have the chance to experience the life-changing benefits of our sport.”
Angelica Hil
“Receiving this scholarship and a new bike is an amazing opportunity that will help me continue growing as an athlete and pursuing my goals in junior elite racing. Competing in triathlon takes a tremendous amount of commitment, not only from athletes but also from the families, coaches, and supporters who make it possible. Because of that, this support means far more than just equipment. It is an investment in my future and a reminder that people in our sport believe in the next generation of athletes.”
Aquinas Lasnoski
“This bike is literally the first brand new piece of equipment I've used in my triathlon career. It's such an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to get a bike like this and be able to use it to compete in draft legal racing. Thanks so much to Gwen and the USAT team for believing in me and investing in my future as a triathlete!”
Brianna Corredero
“Triathlon has been a big part of my life since I was 5 years old, and I love challenging myself in swimming, biking, and running. This bike will help me continue working toward my goals and give me more confidence as I train and race. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me!”
Fynley Lonergan
"Receiving this bike will help me with my journey to perform at an elite level and hopefully open up doors for me to compete in the NCAA, which has been a goal of mine ever since I started the youth series. I want to thank Gwen and USA Triathlon for giving me this opportunity, for believing in me and investing in my future with this new bike."
Grayson Le
“Having the right bike will improve my performance by giving me a better riding position to maximize my speed and efficiency. This bike will help level the playing field. Thank you, Gwen and USA Triathlon, for gifting me this bike. Your generosity and kindness will be top of mind on every ride I take, and every time drop I make.”
Ian Edwards
“I would like to thank Gwen Jorgensen for this opportunity as well as USAT for providing me with this bike. Without a brand new bike I would not be able to compete at the same level as my peers in my age group. Having a new bike gives me the confidence to win at my triathlons.”
James Gioia
“Receiving this bike will really help jumpstart my biking training for triathlon; I already have great resources for the swim and run, and now I will have a great bike to help me improve my skills.”
Noah Clutten
“My whole family loves triathlon, and I have been competing in triathlons since I was 7 years old. This is now my second year participating in youth elite draft legal racing, and the competition is quick. For me, the bike is the most challenging and important part of the race. This new fast race bike is a great tool that helps me stay competitive with the pack. Thank you, Gwen, for providing me with this incredible opportunity. I am so excited to get my new bike.”
Ryan Aytona
“Receiving this bike means more to me than I can fully put into words. As a neurodivergent triathlete with Autism, my journey in triathlon has not always looked the same as everyone else's, and there have been unique challenges along the way. This bike is so much more than a piece of equipment-it represents opportunity, encouragement, and the support that helps athletes like me continue pursuing our dreams.”
TriLatino Club Team
"Our TriLatino Juniors team is all about empowering our youth, and having such an incredible race bike will wonderfully impact their triathlon training journey. It means they can focus on becoming better and stronger cyclists without experiencing gear limitations. Thank you, Gwen Jorgensen and the USA Triathlon Foundation, for your vision and continued support in paving the way for young athletes to conquer their goals."
Jorgensen is one of the most celebrated figures in the history of American triathlon. Since her historic gold-medal victory at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro — where she dominated the run with the fastest 10K split of the day — Jorgensen has continued to captivate fans and inspire athletes around the world. Following the Rio Games, Jorgensen embarked on a bold new chapter: starting a family and pursuing a professional running career. After the birth of her sons, Stanley in August 2017 and George in October 2022, she felt a strong pull back to the sport of triathlon and announced her return to elite competition. A member of the 2026 U.S. Triathlon National Team, Jorgensen’s comeback journey has been one of resilience, perseverance, and passion —and through it all, she has remained deeply committed to growing the sport and ensuring the next generation has every opportunity to succeed.
The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. The Foundation advances the sport’s mission by funding programs that expand access and create opportunity across the multisport community. Focused on three philanthropic priorities, (1) Encouraging Youth Participation (2) Inspiring Pathways to Access and Belonging (3) Igniting Olympic and Paralympic Dreams, the Foundation works to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike, and run. Since its founding in 2014, the Foundation has impacted thousands of lives by investing in individuals and organizations that are building a healthier, more inclusive United States through triathlon.
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
