American rider Kristin Armstrong made Olympic history in Rio on Wednesday after coming out of retirement to win the gold medal in the
women's individual time trial and becoming the first cyclist ever to win three gold medals in the same discipline.
Armstrong completed the 29.7-kilometer (18.4-mile) course in 44:26.42. She beat Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya by nearly five seconds on a wet course. Road-race gold medalist Anna van der Breggen took bronze.
Armstrong, who turns 43 years old on Thursday, completed a remarkable hat trick, having won won gold in the time trial in Beijing and London. She dedicated her win to compatriot Mara Abbott, who came up short in the women's road race on Sunday, having been caught by a chase group in the final kilometer.
After her first gold in Beijing, Armstrong retired from the sport to become a mother but returned for the London Games to successfully defend her title, NBC noted. Armstrong is the oldest female cycling medalist of all time.
"I don't have words to describe it. 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," said Armstrong, who retired after each of her two previous Olympic success, only to come back in search of more glory, according to AFP.
"Today the stars aligned. I knew it was going to be a close race. My coach said to me, 'OK, you decide what colour medal you want to have.'
"I dug so deep. I thought about Mara, and I gave everything for her in the final 5km. To hear the national anthem on the podium, that's my favourite part of the Olympics," added Armstrong, who was greeted at the finish with a hug from her five-year-old son Lucas.
"Kristen Armstrong is a legend," USA Cycling President Derek Bouchard-Hall tweeted. "3 golds in 3 Olympics. LEGEND!"
Armstrong set off from the start riding lots of aero gear: She had an aero time-trial bike by Felt and a SRAM component group, Zipp wheels — including a rear disc wheel — an aero Team USA skinsuit and custom-painted helmet, and aero shoe covers.
FEELING HAWKISH: Armstrong wore a custom-painted aero helmet to slice through the wind.
She had aero handlebars, a custom aero skinsuit, and aero shoe covers to help her slip through the wind to the fastest time. Her time-trial bike by Felt also featured sleek aero shapes.
She rode strongly during the rain-soaked time trial but wisely took caution on the slippery descents where other riders went down.
Once she realized she'd won, she lifted her bike in celebration.
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