Gwen Jorgensen, the first American to win back-to-back world triathlon titles, could have been an accountant.She gave up on her Olympic dream as a teenager when she realized she couldnt swim fast enough and decided shed go to college. She spent three years on the swim team at Wisconsin, where she was an All-American and Big Ten track champion, and would parlay her masters degree and CPA into a job at Ernst & Young upon graduation.Then she got a call from Barb Lindquist, at one time the worlds top-ranked triathlete and a former Olympian. She told Jorgensen that she, too, could be a world-class triathlete if she took up biking and dedicated herself to the sport.Jorgensen thought back to her childhood dreams of being the next Amy Van Dyken or Brooke Bennett.I was glued to the TV when they had Olympic trials on like they have now. It was just something that I really loved, Jorgensen said. But I came to the realization at a relatively young age, in high school, that I would never go to the Olympics in swimming. I just wasnt good enough. I wasnt making any national teams. I wasnt even making junior national teams.So, I just thought I would never be an Olympian. And then when the USA Triathlon approached me, one of the first things they said was, `You could be an Olympian. And I was shocked. I basically laughed at them. I said, `No, I tried than when I was younger and I basically dont have what it takes.She gave it a shot in 2010 and realized Lindquist was right, she was a natural and her Olympic dream was back -- even if triathlon as a sport wasnt that familiar to her. But she was hooked in no time and a few years later qualified for the London Games, where she was a favorite.Thats where the wheel came off.A flat tire doomed her to a 38th-place finish and fed her fire to make amends in Rio de Janeiro.Every race is completely different and thats something that I like about the sport, you go into the triathlon and you have no idea what could happen on race day and you have to be prepared for anything, which I think really makes it a hard race, Jorgensen said.Throw in the massive hype, crowds and logistics at the Olympics and its even more unpredictable.Every race is different and the Olympics are more different, said Jorgensen, who is a heavy favorite in the womens race Aug. 18 at Copa Cabana Beach, where the mens race will be held Aug. 20.Jorgensen, whos from Waukesha, Wisconsin, has 17 career wins and 21 medals on the ITU World Triathlon Series circuit. The sports two-time defending world champion, she had an unprecedented unbeaten streak stretching from May 2014 and April 2016 that produced a dozen consecutive first-place finishes.To ensure maximum energy and optimal condition for Brazil, Jorgensen eased up on her competition schedule this year and participated in races that were closer to her training base in Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain.I have one goal this year and that is the Rio Olympics on Aug. 20, Jorgensen declared.Other things to know about triathlon at the Rio Games:SPEED BUMPThe 1,500-meter swim, a 24.9-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run on Copa Cabana Beach features a challenging hill thats sure to slow the competitors and could tucker them out.The course is really good. Its tough, said Jorgensen, who qualified for Rio by winning the triathlon test event on Aug. 2 on the course. Theres a big hill on the bike and I think that makes it an honest course and everyone is going to be tired. Its going to be interesting to see how quickly you run after ... that really hard bike ride.ALL TIED UPA photo finish at the London Games led to Swedens failed attempt to have the Court of Arbitration for Sport rule the womens triathlon a dead heat. CAS said the photo finish ruling was a field of play decision by the International Triathlon Union and couldnt be challenged.That left Lisa Norden with a silver medal and Nicola Spirig of Switzerland with the gold. Spirig and Norden finished side by side and were given the same time at the end of the race but officials ruled Spirig crossed the tape first.THE RESTSarah True and Katie Zaferes join Jorgensen on the U.S. team, which is by far the best in the world. Americans Greg Billington, Ben Kanute and Joe Maloy are longshots in the mens race, where Spain sports the worlds top triathletes in Mario Mola and Fernando Alarza, currently 1-2 in the ITU World Triathlon Series rankings. 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With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Anthony Crollas rollercoaster career dipped so low he almost quit four years ago, but on Saturday he believes it will hit new heights.The Briton defends his WBA world lightweight title against Venezuelas Jorge Linares (40-3, 27 KOs) in front of Crollas home fans at the Manchester Arena.The winner will be acclaimed the divisions No. 1 but four years ago Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) was contemplating a change of jobs following defeats to British rivals Derry Mathews and Gary Sykes.The 29-year-old was then left on the brink of retirement in Decemeber 2014 when he suffered a fractured skull and broken ankle after he interrupted a neighbours house from being burgled and was attacked. Crolla had caught up with the burglars, who then hit him with a concrete slab.Its tough to put into words how my career has changed, its been a right rollercoaster, Crolla told ESPN. Ive never doubted I could get to this level but it looked very unlikely at various points of my career.I never once thought about packing it in but when I fought Kieran Farrell in 2012 my career was on the line and there was a job waiting for me to start on the Monday morning, because it would have been hard to come back if I had lost that make or break fight.Ive come so far in four years and I would be lying to say I thought I would be fighting the likes of Linares for the world title back then. I thought I might have to retire a couple years ago as well with injuries.Linares has not fought for nearly a year because of a fractured right hand and was stripped of the WBC belt because of his lay-off.Despite entering Saturdays fight as challenger, Linares is still widely regarded as the worlds leading lightweight and last year stopped Londoner Kevin Mitchell.But Crolla has been in inspired form since lifting the WBA belt and makes a second defence against Linares after two knockout wins over Darleys Perez and Ismael Barroso.I feel with my momentum now I can achieve anything, Crolla said. Confidence is a great thing to be running on and Im a happy fighter.You grow as a fighter and a person. IIve matured later than other fighters and Ive made a few tweaks in training which has helped too.ddddddddddddIve changed my strength and conditioning work and do things like yoga as well, which has helped me in the ring. The general conception is that Linares is No. 1 at the weight and I see beating him will make me the main man.I feel better than ever right now. Arguably Linares is number one in the division, but I believe its myself and others would argue otherwise. On Saturday we will find out who is the best.Linares, 31, was last in action when he knocked out Ivan Cano in four rounds, but Crolla says the lay-off is irrelevant and plans to box clever against his dangerous challenger who has registered four successive stoppage wins in four different countries.Ive watched him for years, even before I thought I might fight him, and technically hes brilliant, Crolla said. Hes had a bit of time out but he looked sharp in training in the video he put on social media so hes been working hard.He likes to fight at his pace and I cant allow that and Ive got to be switched on from the opening bell. I cant be lazy because hes a good counter puncher.I have to use my brain in this fight. Ive been working hard on my boxing ability and my angles because hes too good to walk in straight lines.Crolla visited the Manchester United training ground last week and hopes some of the players will be ringside to cheer him on at the Manchester Arena after the English Premier League sides game with Leicester City earlier in the day.As a United fan it was very special to be able to watch them train, meet a few of the players and the manager, Crolla added. I dont definitely know who is coming and weve got Leicester that day but hopefully Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young will be there.The crowd in Manchester gives me that extra gear and they will be better than ever. I just want to do them proud and give them a good night. ' ' '