Click here to read our Q&A with Jorgensen after her impressive finish in London last year, and here to read a review of the Specialized bike she’ll be riding.

Specialized USA is excited to strengthen its commitment to triathlon and triathletes this year with the addition of 2012 US Olympic qualifier Gwen Jorgensen. Having enjoyed a meteoric rise in triathlon, building on the athletic success she enjoyed at the University of Wisconsin, Jorgensen burst onto the multisport scene in 2010. Since then, her long list of impressive results and accolades including 2010 USAT Rookie of the Year and Duathlete of the Year, 2011 USAT Elite Race Series Champion and an ITU World Cup Champion.

“2012 is such a big year for us in triathlon,” said Mallory Burda, Specialized Sports Marketing Coordinator. “We’re so excited to have the opportunity to work with Gwen heading into London, and want to give her every advantage we can to help bring home the gold for the USA.“

Since translating her college track and field and swimming success to triathlon, Jorgensen says her biggest opportunity to improve her overall results this year are within the cycling leg of the race.

“Because I’m relatively new to the bike part of the race, there are opportunities to improve that I’m just not aware of – things like BG FIT, and a bike that’s made specifically for a female rider,” she said.

“ITU rules regulate that we use a road bike, so we don’t get to take advantage of some of the farout aero gear like the new Shiv. Our bikes need to conform to the same UCI rules that road bikes do, so the measurable advantages I’m gaining from my BG FIT and shoes, and my new Prevail helmet will be a huge help. “

Jorgensen will race on a 2012 S-Works Amira equipped with Shimano Di2 and HED wheels, providing all the stiffness and pedaling efficiency she needs to ride her fastest, on a frameset designed to meet the unique needs of female riders.

“The S-Works Amira is the lightest frame we make. Because a woman’s strength to weight ratio is different to a man’s, the Amira frame is engineered to use less material in more efficient ways.

Thanks to this, Gwen has the lightest, most efficient bike available with a ride quality that will leave her less fatigued heading into her run,” said Burda.

Being an Olympic year, Jorgensen has her sights set firmly on Gold in London, and victory at the ITU World Championships, held this year in San Diego, California.

Gwen Jorgensen is represented by Octagon and sponsored by Specialized, Hincapie, New York Athletic Club, Oakley, BlueSeventy, Training Peaks, Shimano, HED, David Hobbs Honda, Steinhafels and CycleOps.