Gwen Jorgensen

This weekend the Olympic qualification period begins.

But this time, I’ll be watching from home.

Earlier in my career, I probably would have raced every opportunity I could. But one thing I have learned is that making an Olympic Games is not about one weekend. It is about making good decisions over a two-year period.

This year there are finally enough races on the calendar that I have the luxury of being selective.

That means choosing races that fit our family schedule. It means prioritising meaningful training blocks at home. It means staying on the same time zone for more than ten days. And it means making decisions based on where I believe I can perform my best, not simply where I can collect another start.

Of course it is exciting to see Olympic qualification begin. This is when the best athletes in the world come out to play. There is an energy around these races that is hard to describe, and I love being part of it.

The goal has not changed.

LA28 is still very much at the forefront of my mind.

Right now, the best thing I can do for that goal is continue building consistency, continue training well, and continue making decisions that maximise my potential over the next two years.

You may see me skip a few races along the way. That is not because the goal is any smaller. It is because every decision is being made with that goal in mind.

The goal isn’t to race every race.

The goal is to be on the LA28 start line as the best athlete I can possibly be.