Kristin Armstrong Wins Gold for U.S. in Time Trial

American Olympic cyclist Kristin Armstrong brought home gold today with a terrific performance in the women's time trial road race. She covered the 14.6-mile course in only 34 mins and 51.72 seconds, an average speed right around 25 mph. Armstrong was faster than second place finisher Emma Pooley (Great Britian) by 24.29 seconds and finished almost a minute ahead of Switzerland's Karin Thuerig, who came in third.

Armstrong is only the second American woman to win a cycling gold medal. Connie Carpenter-Phinney, mother of current American track cycling phenom Taylor Phinney, won the road race in the '84 Los Angeles Olympics.

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Image: Jeff Gross/Getty