American cyclist Kristin Armstrong wins gold, Barry Bonds pretty pumped
On the eve of her 43rd birthday, American cyclist Kristin Armstrong captured her third straight Olympic gold medal in the women’s individual time trial on Wednesday morning.
Armstrong covered the 29.8-kilometer course in 44 minutes and 26.42 seconds, defeating Russia’s Olga Zabelinskaya (44:31.97) and Dutch competitor Anna van der Breggen (44:37.80). She also won the event at the Summer Olympics in 2008 and 2012 in Beijing and London, respectively.
In addition to her gold medal, Armstrong received praise from noted cyclist fan Barry Bonds.
Congratulations Kristin Armstrong 3 time gold medalist.. #rio2016
A photo posted by Barry L Bonds (@blbonds25) on Aug 10, 2016 at 5:57am PDT
While a different form of cycling may spring to mind when your hear the 14-time MLB All-Star’s name, Bonds has supported women’s cycling since his baseball career came to a controversial end.
“I look at him as a tremendous adviser who’s helped steer [Team Twenty16 general manager Nicola Cranmer’s] strategy,” Armstrong told ESPN The Magazine of her relationship to Bonds. “The talks he has given to the team about upping your game have been tremendous. He wants us to run a professional organization, and he’s helping with strength and vision. I know people have questions, but with what he’s given our team, I don’t find it relevant.”
No relation to fallen cycling star Lance Armstrong, Kristin made her fourth appearance at the Summer Olympics with her performance in Brazil. She also finished eighth in the women’s road race at the 2004 Athens Games. Armstrong, who began cycling after her career as a word-class triathlete was cut short by a 2001 diagnosis of osteoarthritis in both her hips, came out of her 2012 retirement last year.
