TrainingPeaks Member Kristin Armstrong Takes Olympic Gold

Kristin Armstrong became just the second American woman cyclist to win an Olympic road cycling gold medal when she won the women's time trial on Wednesday. She joins Connie Carpenter-Phinney, who won the road race at Los Angeles 24 years ago, as the only American women to win Olympic cycling gold. Armstrong is the third straight American to medal in the women's time trial, joining Dede Barry and Mari Holden (a coach on TrainingPeaks), who won silvers in Athens and Sydney, respectively. Armstrong finished the 23.5-kilometer (14.6-mile) course in 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds -- 24.29 seconds better than Emma Pooley of Britain, the silver medalist. The bronze medal went to Karin Thuerig of Switzerland, who was almost a minute behind Armstrong.

"It's the most amazing day of my life," Armstrong said. "I've been working for this for the last eight years, especially the last four, and to time everything right on one day is an accomplishment of its own."

Kristin's teammate Christine Thorburn, who was fourth in the time trial at the 2004 Athens Games, was fifth Wednesday.

"I'm so happy for Kristin," Thorburn said. "She's been preparing impeccably for the last four years, frankly. She was totally ready and totally deserving."

The 2008 Games represent Armstrong's second Olympic appearance after competing in the road race in Athens. In addition to her Olympic gold medal, Kristin also won the 2006 UCI World Time Trial Championships, and took the world bronze medal in 2005 and the silver in 2007. By virtue of that silver medal in the time trial last September, she earned the sole automatic nomination to the 2008 US Olympic women's road team. To learn more about Armstrong, read the NBC article about her Olympic victory. You can also check out the USA Cycling website and Kristin's own website.

Other Olympic athletes who use TrainingPeaks, such as Triathletes Sarah Haskins and Lisa Norden and BMX racers Mike Day and Jill Kintner, have yet to compete for Olympic gold - keep checking back in to see what these incredible athletes accomplish in Beijing!