Lucrezia Gowdy is a freshman on the Denver Pioneers triathlon team and came to the Mile High City from her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.
 
Gowdy made her collegiate debut at the Southern Hills Triathlon super sprint on Aug. 30 in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and posted a season best in 16th place at the Prairie State Cup on Oct. 4 in DeWitt, Illinois.
 
Coming from an athletic family where her father played soccer at Georgetown and older brother was a cross-country runner in the NCAA ranks, Gowdy started competing in triathlons in summer 2023 and has been rising through the sport. She placed 21st at the U.S. Junior Nationals this past August in West Chester, Ohio.
 
Gowdy has a swimming and running background and helped Episcopal School of Jacksonville to a second-place finish in 2022 in the cross country. She was a three-time team MVP of her cross country squad and previously swam for the Bolles Sharks club.
 
She has an Italian heritage and hopes to live in Italy in the future.
 
Why did you choose the University of Denver? 
 
"I chose DU for the triathlon program, the team environment, the study abroad program, the language programs and the proximity to the mountains."
 
Why triathlon?
 
"I have been a runner and a swimmer most of my life and really wanted to do both in the future, so I began doing triathlons the summer before my junior year of high school. I fell in love with the sport and decided I wanted to continue to compete in college."
 
What was your first triathlon race?
 
"My first race was in June of 2023, and I competed in a local non-draft sprint triathlon and won first place for women. I really loved racing and the training had been fun, so I immediately went home to sign up for my next triathlon."
 
What are your goals for this season?     
 
"My goal for this season is to improve my time on my run and work on being first out of the water. I also want to place in the top 10 at nationals."
 
What are your plans for the future?
 
"I plan to compete in collegiate triathlons for the next four years and then I am exploring options to work abroad, hopefully in Italy."
 
Where is your favorite training area?
 
"I love training in Brevard, North Carolina. There are beautiful views and miles of trails in the dense forest. The vibe of the town is so welcoming and the weather is much cooler than Florida."
 
What are some of your favorite spots in Colorado?
 
"I really loved Vail. It has an amazing view of the mountains from the top of the gondola and the town is fun to walk through. I also love Red Rocks."
 
What kind of music do you like?              
 
"I like pop, 80s, and rock. My favorite band is the Black Eyed Peas and my favorite song is 'Walking on a Dream' by Empire of the Sun."
 
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
 
"You have exactly one life in which to do everything you'll ever do. Act accordingly." - Colin Wright
 
What are your favorite movies and TV shows?
 
"My favorite movie is Into The Wild, and my favorite TV show is the Big Bang Theory."
 
What is your favorite sport to watch?   
 
"My favorite sport to watch is football with my brother, especially on Sundays."
 
Do you have a pre-race routine?
 
"I like listening to hype music, doing my favorite stretches and visualizing my race."
 
Do you have any causes that are special to you?
 
"I was an Eagle Ambassador at my high school, where I volunteer at school events and helped future and new students with an easy transition to our school. I loved being an Eagle Ambassador because I got to be part of building my school into a welcoming place."
 
Are you related to or know anyone "famous?"
 
"I would say the most famous person I know is Garrett Scantling, an Olympic decathlete. I also know Morgan Ray, a Paralympian swimmer that won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics."
 
What is something that other people might not know about you?
 
"I speak Italian, but I've only been to Italy once."
 
What other sports have you participated in?
 
"I have participated in swimming, cross country, track, soccer and softball."
 
Any athletic or academic accomplishments you are particularly proud of?
 
"I was a member of the Cum Laude society at my high school, which means I am in the top 10 percent of students for GPA. In addition, I am an all-American in cross country; I received this title my eighth-grade year."