Gwen Jorgensen wins first gold medal for U.S. women in triathlon

Two of the world’s best triathletes found time to engage in verbal battle, almost humorously.

Gwen Jorgensen and defending champion Nicola Spirig— with a gold medal on the line Saturday in the women’s Olympic triathlon — exchanged words during the 10-kilometer run. They were discussing the head winds on the scenic Copacabana course.

“No one wanted to lead,” said Spirig, almost disarmingly. “I was like, ‘Come on, we share the work.’ And she [Jorgensen] said, ‘No, I was leading before.’ … In the end I said, ‘Well, I already have a medal, so it’s you that has to work.’”

Well played.

Said Jorgensen: “And it’s fair enough. Now she has two, and I still only have one.”

Except Jorgensen’s medal was gold on Saturday. The 30-year-old from St. Paul, Minn., became the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in triathlon, beating Spirig, of Switzerland, by 40 seconds. Vicky Holland of Britain took the bronze, edging countrywoman, Non Stanford, by three seconds.

Jorgensen, who had a flat tire and finished 38th at the Olympics in 2012, was the heavy favorite in Rio as two-time world champion, and she embraced the expectations. She cried after crossing the finish line, completing the event in 1 hour 56 minutes and 16 seconds.

“I’ve said for four years that this was my goal -- Aug. 20 -- I wanted to cross that line, I wanted to get a gold medal,” said Jorgensen, giving credit to her husband, Patrick Lemieux, and coach Jamie Turner.

“It’s pretty incredible that I was actually able to do it. Four years comes down to one day. To be able to perform on the day is something pretty amazing.”

The U.S. had previously won only one Olympic medal in women’s triathlon – a bronze by Susan Williams in 2004. On Saturday, American Katie Zaferes finished 18th and Sarah True, after hurting her right leg during the swim and having increasing difficulty on the bike, withdrew.

Spirig was the wild card. She crashed in a race earlier this year – requiring three plates in her hand and 23 screws – and had not gone head-to-head against Jorgensen since London.

Jorgensen was only seconds behind heading into the bike-run transition and moved to the front right away. Spirig stayed with her until the final lap when Jorgensen’s vaunted speed took over. Spirig’s self-described “mental games” didn’t work.

“I had to try everything to get her out of the rhythm a bit,” Spirig said. “I was very well prepared. I’ve seen her and I knew she was running really well. I think I did everything right and she was just fast in the end. I haven’t seen anyone running with her as long as I did today.”

That is something, considering Jorgensen’s ability to finish. Earlier this year, she was behind by 100 seconds after the bike, going into the run and ended up winning by 51 seconds in Leeds, England.

“To watch Gwen in full flight, usually from behind, is quite something,” Holland said. “I think even today when I was watching the two of them duke it out in front, I could see they were running together for a long time before Gwen edged away. It’s almost inevitable. I’ve seen it in so many races.”

For Jorgensen, it was a day of reflection, remembering those who helped her get into the sport.

“Barb Lindqvist came to me and said, ‘I think you should do triathlon,’” said Jorgensen of the former triathlete who is now with the USA College recruitment program. “I kind of laughed .… I had a huge passion for swimming growing up, and I wanted to go to the Olympics in swimming. For me, I just felt like I didn’t have what it took, I’m not good enough.

“[Linqvist] said, ‘On paper, you could be an Olympian,’” Jorgensen recalled. “I just didn’t believe that, and actually when I qualified for my first Olympics in 2012, it was a complete shock to me. I’m just really thankful that I’ve had those people to believe in me throughout the way.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

twitter: @reallisa