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Idaho's Kirsten Armstrong takes gold
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August 1, 2012 |
 Kristin
Armstrong of the United States won her second
straight gold medal in the Olympic cycling time
trial Wednesday, beating Judith Arndt of Germany
by more than 15 seconds.
Armstrong, a University of Idaho alumnae living
in Boise, covered the 18-mile course south of
London in 37 minutes, 34.82 seconds.
Arndt finished in 37:50.29 for the silver, while
Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia posted a time of
37:57.35 to add a bronze to the one she captured
in Sunday's road race.
The good news was published on Kirstin's
official website,
http://www.kristinarmstrongusa.com.
The 38-year-old Armstrong briefly retired after
her triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to
start a family, but she hopped back on her bike
after delivering a son, Lucas, in 2010.
Suffering from log-term osteoarthritis, she is
also recently recovered from a broken clavicle
she suffered in May.
On Wednesday, she looked as if she'd never been
hurt nor been away.
Armstrong, a two-time world champion, had
already gained a second on the field by the
first time check, and by the time she reached
the second checkpoint, at the 12½-mile mark, the
lead had swelled to nearly five seconds.
Armstrong knew she was headed for another gold
when she started to pick off riders in the
run-up to the finish, including Dutch champion
Marianne Vos, who won gold in the road race.
The famously stoic Armstrong let a smile slip as
she crossed the finish line, slowing to a stop
and then slumping over her bike. She rested just
enough to catch her breath before heading to the
victory stand and her second consecutive Olympic
gold.
Armstrong currently makes her home in Boise,
Idaho, with her husband, Joe Savola. She holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in sports physiology
from the University of Idaho. |
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