American Armstrong claims her third Olypic gold at Rio Olympics(updated)

American cyclist Kristin Armstrong claimed her third Olympic gold after winning the women's individual time trial road race at the Rio Olympic Games in a rainy and windy day here on Wednesday.

Armstrong, the oldest woman in the race by eight years, clocked a winning time of 44 minutes and 26.42 seconds to take the gold.

"I don't have words to describe it. 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." said Armstrong.

After a long history of hip and knee problems, The London and Beijing Olympic gold winner entered the race as one of the favorites to win a medal, starting last among the 25 competitors.

"Today the stars aligned. I knew it was going to be a close race." said Armstrong.

Armstrong, who turns 43 on Thursday, joins Leontien Zijlaard Van Moorsel of the Netherlands on a record three gold medals in cycling road events and became the first woman to win women's individual time trial three times.

"My coach said to me, OK, you decide what colour medal you want to have. I dug so deep." added Armstrong.

The London 2012 bronze medalist Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia took the silver in 44:31.97, while the bronze went to Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands in 44:37.80.

"I'm very happy, but of course, I am also disappointed that I could not win the gold medal because it is only five seconds to first place. I'm happy to get the medal, anyway. it was hard to know the time differences on the course, so you just push." said Zabelinskaya.

Van Dijk of the Netherlands, the 2013 ITT world champion had to settle for the fourth palce after falling off into the jungle scrub when climbed uphill.

Unlike the mass-start road races, the time trial races feature athletes competing one at a time against the clock.

A total of 25 cyclists featured in the women's time trial, which covers a distance of 29.7 kilometers. Endit