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Armstrong Takes Time Trial Gold

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The Associated Press

Published: August 14, 2008

BEIJING - Kristin Armstrong made her way through the throng of well-wishers at the Great Wall, locked eyes with her husband, and the emotions began to flow.

She cried. He cried. That's what some do when overcome with joy.

"Awesome," she mumbled through the tears. "It's so awesome."

For four years, she pointed to this day as her ultimate goal, and when the moment arrived, she came through in smashing fashion. Armstrong won the gold medal in the road time trial Wednesday, becoming only the second American female cyclist to capture Olympic gold, joining Connie Carpenter-Phinney, who won the road race at Los Angeles 24 years ago.

Armstrong's time of 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds over the 14.6-mile course was nearly a half-minute better than Great Britain's Emma Pooley, who set a blazing early time and dared the women's best to better her effort.

Of the 20 racers who remained on the course after Pooley finished, only Armstrong was better. And when it was over, after erasing an inexplicable moment of disbelief, she wrapped exhausted arms around husband Joe Savola and cried the happiest tears she'd ever shed.

"The moment that I had today, it's one of those dreams you have as a child in America," Armstrong said.

Switzerland's Karin Thurig was third, about a minute off Armstrong's time. French legend Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli - at 49 years old, racing in her seventh Olympics - was fourth and American Christine Thorburn, who was fourth in the time trial at the Athens Games four years ago, finished fifth.

It completes a stirring cycle for Armstrong. She made the 2004 Olympic team, but was left off the two-woman roster for the time trial in Athens, a decision that pained her deeply.

In the end, it worked out perfectly.

"I've tried to enjoy every bit of this whole journey," Armstrong said. "But today, today was the ultimate."

BASEBALL: Lee Jong-wook hit a sacrifice fly with one out and South Korea answered the Americans' ninth-inning rally with one of its own, beating the U.S. 8-7.

The Americans had seemed poised for the comeback victory after Matt Brown hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth, but South Korea rallied against closer Jeff Stevens.

BASKETBALL: Lisa Leslie was 7-for-7 from the field as the women's team continued its unblemished run with a 97-41 victory against Mali.

Leslie finished with 16 points as the U.S. has won 28 straight Olympic contests. The last loss was to the Unified Team in the semifinals of the 1992 Barcelona Games. The Americans have run over their first three opponents winning by an average of 47 points. They routed the Czech Republic, China, and now Mali.

The Americans play Spain next on Friday.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers advanced to the medal round with a straight-sets victory against Argentina.

The reigning world champions and heavily favored U.S. team never trailed in the match, winning 21-12, 21-13 in just 39 minutes. Rogers, forced to attack because Dalhausser was forced to pass, converted 22 of the team's 28 killshots.

JUDO: Ronda Rousey won was first Olympic medal in women's judo for the U.S. since the event was put on the official schedule in 1992 by taking bronze in the 70-kilogram class.

Masae Ueno won Japan's third gold on the judo mats, defending her 2004 Olympic gold, while Cuba's Anaysi Hernandez won the silver. Also winning bronze (Judo awards two bronze medals in each weight class) was Edith Bosch of the Netherlands.

SOCCER: Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna scored to lead Nigeria past 10-man United States 2-1, earning a place in the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament and eliminating the Americans.

Sacha Kljestan converted an 88th-minute penalty for the Americans and substitute Benny Feilhaber headed onto the post in the 90th, as the United States was eliminated from Group B after the Netherlands beat Japan.

The Americans played with 10 men from the third minute when defender Michael Orozco was ejected.

SOFTBALL: Cat Osterman pitched a no-hitter, Crystl Bustos hit a two-run homer and the U.S. softball team extended its Olympic winning streak to 16 games with a 3-0 win over Australia.

Osterman was locked in a pitcher's duel for four innings with Tanya Harding, who had handed the U.S. team two of its four losses in the games since 1996. Osterman struck out 13 as the Americans posted their 14th shutout during the winning streak.

Natasha Watley's RBI single off Harding snapped a 0-0 tie in the fifth, and Bustos connected for her 10th career Olympic homer in the sixth.

VOLLEYBALL: The U.S. women's team, appearing determined to put aside the grief that hung over their first two Olympic matches, defeated Venezuela 3-1.

With the physical 25-17, 20-25, 25-14 25-18 victory, the U.S. women improved to 2-1 in preliminary pool play. Venezuela fell to 0-3.

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