Kristin Armstrong: Cycling supermom wins third consecutive Olympic gold
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Kristin Amrstrong celebrates with her five-year-old son Lucas after winning gold.
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Story highlights
Kristin Armstrong takes gold for Team USA in women's time trial
Armstrong wins the event for a third successive Olympics
Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara triumphs in the men's event
Rio de JaneiroCNN
—
Age is clearly just a number to US cyclist Kristin, who powered to gold in the women’s cycling time trial the day before she turns 43.
The oldest woman in the field by seven years, Armstrong mastered Rio’s wet and windy conditions to secure a remarkable third successive Olympic title.
Armstrong’s victory quickly became a family affair as she capped off perfect day, embracing her five-year-old son Lucas at the finish line.
In Sunday’s road race, Armstrong had tried to help Mara Abott win gold only for her fellow American cyclist to slip from first to fourth place over the final 150 meters of Sunday’s road race.
“I don’t have words to describe it,” said Armstrong, who shed tears of joy at the top of the podium.
“When you’ve already been two times at the pinnacle of the sport, why risk coming back for the gold medal?
“The best answer I can give is that I can. Today the stars aligned. I knew it was going to be a close race. My coach said to me, ‘OK, you decide what color medal you want to have.’
“I dug so deep. I thought about Mara fourth in women’s road race), and I gave everything for her in the final 5km.”
Armstrong’s gold was Team USA’s 10th of the Games.
“To hear the national anthem on the podium,” she added, “that’s my favorite part of the Olympics.”
The silver went to Russia’s Olga Zabelinskaya, who took bronze in the time trial and road race four years ago before failing a drugs test in July 2014 and serving an 18-month ban.
“I’m very happy, but of course, I am also disappointed that I could not win the gold medal because it is only five seconds to first place,” said the 36-year-old Russian. “I’m happy to get the medal, anyway.
“It’s very important, because it’s the Olympic Games. It’s important for me, and for Russia.”
Dutchwoman Anna Van Der Breggen finished in the bronze medal position after taking gold in the road race.
Her compatriot Annemiek Van Vleuten was leading the road race with 11 kilometers to go before suffering a heavy concussion and three minor spinal fractures in a sickening crash.
Van Vleuten was released from hospital Tuesday and Van Der Breggen admitted it had been a difficult time for the team.
“It’s really been emotional here for us after what happened in the road race,” she said. “Everyone gave it their all. It’s very emotional that I win the medal again.”
Meanwhile Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara ensured a golden end to his career by winning the men’s race.
The 35-year-old finished 47 seconds clear of Frenchman Tom Dumoulin with Tour de France winner having to settle for the bronze medal for the second successive Games.
Cancellara will retire at the end of the 2016 season and he marked his final year in the sport by repeating the success he enjoyed at Beijing 2008.
“It’s everyone’s own choice when they want to retire,” said Cancellara. “I knew it would be a special year. I’ve had many highlights, with the classics, then the Tour de France in Switzerland, and then the Olympic Games.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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South Korean gymnast Lee Eun-ju takes a selfie with North Korean gymnast Hong Un-jong during training on Thursday, August 4. Relations have been frosty between the North and South since its division following the end of World War II, but geopolitics were put to the side as the two Olympians came together.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Abbey D'Agostino of the United States leaves the track on a wheelchair after twisting her ankle in the 5000-meter semifinal on Tuesday, August 16. D'Agostino and New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin, right, collided during the race but helped each other up and managed to make it to the finish line.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas dives over the finish line to win gold in the 400 meters on Monday, August 15. She edged out American Allyson Felix by .07 seconds.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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David Katoatau of Kiribati dances during the 105-kilogram (231-pound) weightlifting final on Monday, August 15. He finished sixth overall.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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China's Qin Kai proposes to fellow diver He Zi after she received silver in the 3-meter springboard on Sunday, August 14.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt looks back at his competitors during a 100-meter semifinal on Sunday, August 14. Bolt won the final a short time later, becoming the first man in history to win the 100 meters at three straight Olympic Games.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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South Africa's Chad Le Clos, right, looks over at U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps during the 200-meter butterfly final on Tuesday, August 9. Ahead of their semifinal, the two were seen on camera as Le Clos shadowboxed while Phelps just watched.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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The diving pool, right, is seen on Tuesday, August 9. The pool had turned from blue to green since Monday.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Rugby player Isadora Cerullo of Brazil, left, kisses Marjorie Enya, a volunteer at the Games, on Monday, August 8. Enya proposed to Cerullo after the rugby sevens match between Australia and New Zealand.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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U.S. fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad celebrates after defeating Ukraine's Olena Kravatska in the individual sabre competition on Monday, August 8. Muhammad is the first U.S. Olympian to compete in hijab.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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U.S swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay on Sunday, August 7. The red marks on his body are the result of cupping -- an ancient therapy that has mostly been used in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, especially China.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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U.S. swimmer Lilly King reacts after winning the 100-meter breaststroke semifinal on Sunday, August 7. King beat Russia's Yulia Efimova in both their semifinal and final faceoff after what had been billed as an Olympic grudge race.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Yusra Mardini, a swimmer for the Refugee Olympic team, competes in a 100-meter butterfly heat on Saturday, August 6. The Syrian native and her teammates have had a remarkable journey to the Games.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Silver medalist Yang Sun of China and gold medalist Mack Horton of Australia shake hands after the 400-meter swimming freestyle on Saturday, August 6. The Australian had opened up a war of words against his Chinese opponent in the buildup to the final, saying: "I don't have time or respect for drug cheats."
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Samir Ait Said of France receives medical attention after breaking his leg on the vault during the artistic gymnastics team qualification round on Saturday, August 6.
Photos: What a moment! These viral photos defined Rio 2016
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Fireworks explode over the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janiero at the end of the Olympic Games' opening ceremony on Friday, August 5.
“I am just thankful that I came here healthy, because this is what you need to have. I am super proud. Just reaching this today means so much to me. To win a gold medal in your retirement year, I am super proud. This will leave me without any doubt about retiring.”
Froome was trying to emulate compatriot Bradley Wiggins by completing the Tour de France and Olympic trial double.
But he admitted that Cancellara was the better rider on the day.
“Personally, I am very happy with the medal again,” said the Kenyan-born Briton.
“The focus of my season this year was the Tour de France, so to come back to the Olympics, to medal for a second time, is an amazing feeling. I’ve got no regrets. I gave it everything today.”