RIO, Brazil – Former Vandal Kristin Armstrong continues to make history, taking home her third straight Olympic Gold Medal in the women's individual time trial on a windy, rainy morning in Rio.
 
Armstrong closed out the field as the 25^th rider to take the course.  She posted the best first split in the field, but was nearly three seconds behind at the second split.  Armstrong kicked it up in the final stretch to earn her third consecutive gold medal, winning the race by 5.55 seconds with a time of 44:26.42.
 
"I don't have words to describe it," Armstrong said following the race.  "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.  Today the stars aligned."
 
Armstrong briefly retired from the sport in 2009, but returned to training in 2010.  She retired again following her second gold medal in 2012, but returned with a new fire and passion for the sport in 2015.
 
Armstrong joins some incredibly exclusive company, becoming just the second American woman in history to win three gold medals in the same event.  Bonnie Blair is the other, having won three straight golds in the 500-meters in speed skating from 1988-1994.
 
By far the most veteran rider in the field, Armstrong will turn 43 on Thursday.  Armstrong competed for the Idaho cross country team in the early 1990's.
 
The Vandals have one more Olympian competing this summer, as former track and field standout and coach Angela Whyte will take on the 100-meter hurdles, beginning on Tuesday, August 16.  Check back with GoVandals.com following the competition for complete updates.