Just wanted to say "well done Jocelyn" in giving it a go.

But I am almost certain that sometime down the line when you are practicing as a physician in the normal world, the need for fitness, activity and perhaps travel will send you back to triathlon. Maybe not as a pro, but as an age grouper just spending time doing the sport to balance off a high pressure professional life!

Good luck!

I don't really know her at all. However, I did catch a thread that featured her writing about her "bike boxes" -- what a character.

I guess the writing was on the wall.

I really enjoyed following her blog those two years that she was travelling around racing and training. Such an entertaining writer!

Being from Pacifica as well, I rooted for and followed the Wongstarr and after reading the blog, can understand why she retired. All pro's have to face this at some time or another. Good thing for most triathletes they have a career to fall back on. I hope for her the great performances were worth the years of low pay and struggle.

 

Frankly, I think she'll get over it and get back in the game. I think she was on the verge of a breakthrough. It would be cool to see her at REV3 South Carolina next year.

She'll have WAY more fun killin' it as a retired AG athlete. Good decision, given the good job opportunities comin' her way.

You all.... she 'hates' let me repeat that 'hates' swimming.... can't be a triathlete on any level if you 'hate' swimming.

thinks she's going for the olympic racing walking team... time will tell if she truly loves it...

only if you truly love something will you do it and keep it doing it, till you can't do it no more.

Loved her entire vibe, not taking herself seriously. Our sport needs more like her!

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My business-eBodyboarding.com

My favorite triathlete pro!!! Will miss her.

One the top three smiles in all of triathlon! Love her smile! Love her attitude! Love her story! Sad to see it end. Best wishes!

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This.

I remember being passed by a female pro on the bike at around mile 70 or 80 at IMTX. That was strange since they started the swim ten minutes before us AG'ers. Not that I'm completely inept at triathlon but a female pro shouldn't be slumming with the likes of me. I assumed something had gone really wrong on the bike - like they had some major mechanical issues. I then realized it was Jocelyn and I probably had just outswum her by 15-20 minutes. :-)

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Interesting perspective from an ST point of view ....."retiring" from a 'professional" career where she probably never earned anything of note ..... now moving to a medical career where she really will have a meaningful and fulfilling career and a real impact on peoples lives. Good for her ....and congratulations on a significant life step. Triathlon really isn't a profession at all .....

Dave

Paulo, are you bumping this thread, or removing angry banter?

+1

I wonder if these folks would agree with you..
wellington, potts, alexander, wuertel, reed, sousa, kemper, rapp...and the list goes on.

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"Good genes are not a requirement, just the obsession to beat ones brains out daily"...the Griz

I know that Chrissie Wellington expressed similar doubts ("triathlon is not a meaningful and fulfilling career") to Brett Sutton, who told her - correctly - that she would, because of her success, have a bigger platform to make change than she ever could have imagined working in government (which she did before). And it's true. Look at the statements she has made re: women in sport, the work she has done for ALS, and - most importantly (IMO) - the unquantifiable value of shattering the limits of what people thought was possible. Look at the people Chrissie inspires by what she does. You think that doesn't have a real impact on peoples' lives? You think that isn't fulfilling and meaningful?

It's a rare and special treat to make your living doing something you love. And I think that the opportunity to do so is always meaningful, always fulfilling, and always has a real impact on other people.

If you have a dream, pursue it as hard as you can. The world needs more of that.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

I agree about fulfilling career, dreams etc....but only a few get to have the same influence and get meaning from their career that Chrissie can. Jocelyn will probably have a bigger impact on people's lives as a medical professional. Hard for her to have the same impact on this world in triathlon as Chrissie can. That's just the reality of being a lot slower than Chrissie. No disrespect. If Chrissie was a ~ 10 hour female pro, her impact would not be as large, because few would care/listen to what she has to say, even though it might be exactly the same message.

Good move by Jocelyn!

she can do great things in her age group. good for her for a big life step.

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Call of Duty

I visited Jocelyn's blog WAY more than any other pro.

Once I'd read thru all of doc's gems on the tbb website the only reason I ever really visited was to see what Jocelyn was doing (I like Brandon's blog too).

Watching her progress was really inspiring. There was a point where she was blogging every day; that was awesome. She offered a view into a world that most of us don't get to see. And a perspective that was very open, candid and funny.

I think Jocelyn had a huge impact on people. It may not be the same as what she can do now, but she gave way more than many top pros and I was surprised more sponsors didn't clamour to sign her.

bluepoint, it's an interesting discussion, sure, Jocelyn needed money, but big sponsorship would have changed her as a person, not good or bad, but it would have.

What she had that most pro's dont, is a point of view, and nothing to lose. The "problem" with many pro's is they have a lot to lose and they feel their best position is not to have a point of view. As @rapstar and Chrissie have also proven, it's not nad to have a point of view, but eventually you get defined by it. Most pro's treat triathlon as a job, then a passion. They let the job define them, Jocelyn never did and she will be the same in what she does next, it's just the way she is.

Jocelyn was fun from the get-go when I first knew her, there were just a small band of triathletes back in 2002/3 on Livejournal along with someguy called Zuckerberg, when I met her in real time she was obviously passionate and cared about things, but she thought she had a chance at making it as a pro' and so I agreed to help. She was already committed to helping through her prosthetics, we rode 40-miles back to Austin from a race where she'd just won her age group... the rest is history. She gave it her best shot, was a role model for many and had a big impact out in China and Korea, this years accident with the car at IM Korea just accelerated a decision I think should would have made anyway.


++Mark. [former wongstar travel sponsor]
http://triman.livejournal.com

I dunno, I think Chrissie's defined by her ridiculous record of success in races more than her point of view on any or all subjects.

Rappstar is a bit different as he was a 'voice' in triathlon before he was a successful athlete - but as time goes on he gets less and less defined by his words and more and more defined by his results.

Great to meet the 'travel sponsor'!

I'd add that Jocelyn took us all on a journey as she travelled around the world, broke and single, trying to make it as a pro.

I honestly think that if she hired an editor she could take all her blog entries from this period and have a really successful book!

Agreed, if you only look at her record. Look at her writing and position on both the original WTC pro rankings, IMH Qualifying and the recent BBC Sports personalty debacle, and ask, did she write or take these positions because she had a great record, or would she have had them any way and used them, her record/results just added gravitas? I think the latter. But hey hoy, we'll never know now... the same is true of the Wongstar, could she have swum under an hour? :)

 Wong bragged about herself more than any triathlete out there, it got really obnoxious. I don't see how that's good for the sport.

"If you have a dream, pursue it as hard as you can. The world needs more of that."

Thanks for this Jordan. I, um, liberated it for use because it eloquently encapsulates so much.

Bob

It might just be me but I have always felt that Sportspeople, and likely many others prominent in their field, don't have that much affect on the things outside of their sport. And by that I mean whatever good intent they may have, their voice is really only relevant to topics about their particular sport. It's nice that they do put in the effort but the benefit is likely not that great. There are a few exceptions, Lance Armstrong has raised a lot of money for example, but when it comes to raising awareness I have always wondered exactly what we are supposed to be aware of. We likely all know of Livestrong but what affect has it had on us other than the purchase of a yellow plastic bracelet (which I don't own) or an awareness of the Livestrong logo. How many know what Livestrong actually does. How many of us, in Chrissie's case, have delved into ALS because of her promotion of it. Some, but likely not many.

I am not trying to be negative about their efforts at all. It is undoubtedly beneficial. But in reality is a 'sponsorship' of ALS by Chrissie providing her with a genuine meaningful and fulfilling career? Or is it something that she ultimately thinks falls a little flat because it simply feels slightly detached? Maybe the lady in question feels that a career in medicine would be more fulfilling than splashing around, going for a ride and running around a bit and then earnestly mentioning a charity. It probably took a little soul searching to make the leap too. Maybe having the voice on the subject is not enough, and actually getting your hands dirty on the subject is.

Me, I would love the opportunity to be a pro triathlete, but I can understand the point of view that other roles may be more fulfilling. I have seen people do charity runs for Hospices, earnestly getting sponsorship money, and I have seen my wife visit the bedside of those in a Hospice in their final days. I guarantee the latter has a profound effect that is unlikely matched by having a voice. However heartfelt and inspirational that voice may be.

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I have followed her for a while. Sassy, irreverent, fun, super hard working, super positive. I don't compare her to anyone else or judge her by the standards of others. She is Jocelyn, unique in her own way. She had something to say that we enjoyed and wanted to hear. She has done well in what she has pursued to date and will continue to do so in whatever else she chooses to pursue.

I like these kinds of people.

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Cervelo R3 and Cannondale Synapse, Argon18 Electron Track Bike

There's this thing called "humor" that you should try out sometime.

I liked her blog, it was good fun, but I thought she was always going to be a 2nd or 3rd tier pro (and there's nothing wrong with that), her move (back) into the medical field will be much more fulfilling. Good luck Wongstar!

Having known Jocelyn from the very beginning when she was a member of my Tri club, she's still the same fun loving, take things as they come, delightful girl. She'll be a success and have fun in whatever her next step is.

Good luck Wongstar!

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

I first "found" Jocelyn through her blog on the TBB website several years ago, and have been following her blog and career ever since. I love her writing, her sense of humour, her attitude and work ethic, and her ability to not take herself too seriously (because if there's one thing us triathletes are good at.....). I wish her luck wherever her career (athletic or otherwise) takes her next!

Jesse

Really? I guess I could sorta see it, but she did it in a cheesy sarcastic way so I think you're taking it more seriously than she did, as she's quick to make fun herself as well.

I was Jocelyn's first Asian chick fan!!! (I think) First something fan having to do with Asia, although not first Asian fan. Maybe. In any case ... :)

It'd be a long list what I admire her for, but I also think her writings would make an excellent--and publishable--book. Her tenacity in tackling swimming as an adult and as a pro in a sport that includes swimming ... pretty gutsy.

Congratulations, Wongstar, and all the best in what's to come. You will make it that way anyway.

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x2

doctors save lives
government workers create public policies
pro athletes play games for money

-mike

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____________________________________
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http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/

I admire people who follow their dreams. If it takes a bit of self promotion to follow ones dreams then so be it. Good on her and I do remember enjoying reading her comments.

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Full event coverage of triathlon/ironman in photos.

Government workers? I would have gone with plumbers (they fix the shitter) before government workers.

I miss wongstar already.

Was her career/ability worthy of a retirement announcement? I don't know a lot about her - what was her best win?

Worthy is in the eye of the beholder. To many, their times and wins are worthy. To many others, the person, the way they comport themselves, the way they communicate makes them special. Admire Chrissy Wellington,mand also Jocelyn Wong. Different reasons.

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Cervelo R3 and Cannondale Synapse, Argon18 Electron Track Bike

She had a quote about rumors of her retirement being false but rumors of her awesomeness being true. Or something like that. She's pretty clever, that's for sure.

Anyone can create mystery and hide behind the veil of "retirement" to come back better than ever.

It has been done before with great effect.

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**All of these words finding themselves together were greatly astonished and delighted for assuredly, they had never met before**

Questions like that make me want to retire, too! Wingstar had some solid races. But it's more about her blog and twitter feed: she was one of the more clever triathletes. And let's face it, this sport needs more personality.

'The list' also includes people not competing in Ironman in North America...

If you want to get your knickers in a twist about somebody bragging go read Jodie Swallows blog...

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If Jodie really does Swallow then she has every right to brag...;-)


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I'll happily tell all professional triathletes that that it is not a Profession, however long the list is and whatever continent they are on. Not in the classic sense anyway. There is not a defined and specific education for a start. In fact I think it could be argued that in the classic sense no triathlete is a professional triathlete as Triathlon is not a profession.

Getting paid for something does not make the role a Profession.

Whatever it is, it beats most peoples jobs!

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https://www.pbandjcoaching.com
https://www.thisbigroadtrip.com

I this day and age with people feeling the need to blog about the sandwich they had for lunch or utterly ordinary shit like their kids diaper-usage stats, I'd give Wong the benefit of the doubt as being a standout in her sport even if she didn't win any major titles; at least she gave people a little more whimiscal and engaging window on the life of a pro triathlete. Obviously wins are premium currency for any pro athlete, but the ability to create a connection with fans and value to sponsors is also part of the gig....i.e., personality counts, too.

But being a pedant is? ;)

Is what?

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