Kristin Armstrong facts for kids
Winning the 2012 Olympics time trial (age 38).
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kristin Armstrong Savola | ||
| Born | August 11, 1973 Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Weight | 128 lb (58 kg) | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Ride | ||
| Rider type | All-rounder | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Kristin Armstrong Savola (born August 11, 1973) is a famous American road bicycle racer. She is known for winning three Olympic gold medals. Kristin won the women's individual time trial in 2008, 2012, and 2016. She is the only female cyclist to win three gold medals in the same event at the Olympics.
Kristin took a break from cycling in 2009 to start a family. She later returned to compete in 2011. After her final Olympic win in 2016, she retired from professional cycling.
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Kristin's Journey to Cycling
Kristin Armstrong was a talented athlete from a young age. Before becoming a professional cyclist, she was a junior Olympian in swimming. She also ran long distances in college. Later, she became a triathlete, which combines swimming, cycling, and running.
In 2001, when she was 27, doctors told her she had osteoarthritis in her hips. This meant she could no longer run at a high level. This health challenge led her to focus only on cycling, which became her main sport.
Olympic Success and World Titles
Kristin quickly became a top cyclist. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, she finished 8th in the women's road race. She was the best U.S. finisher in that race.
Her biggest achievement came at the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. On August 13, she won the gold medal in the women's road time trial. She finished 25 seconds faster than the silver medalist.
After the 2009 World Championships, Kristin decided to take a break. She wanted to start a family with her husband. She had a son named Lucas William in September 2010. She said she would consider racing again if everything went well after her son's birth.
In 2011, Kristin returned to cycling. She won several races, showing she was still a strong competitor. She successfully defended her Olympic title at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. This made her the oldest rider to win an Olympic time trial at that time. After the 2012 Olympics, she announced her retirement again.
However, Kristin made another comeback in 2015. She wanted to compete at the World Championships. In 2016, she made history at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She won her third gold medal in the women's individual time trial. This made her the first cyclist ever to win three gold medals in the same event. She also became the oldest female cyclist to win an Olympic medal.
After her amazing career, Kristin joined USA Cycling in 2017. She became the Endurance Performance Director. In 2019, she started her own company, KX3 Sports, which makes bike computer mounts.
Kristin's Personal Life
Kristin Armstrong was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father was an officer in the U.S. Marines. Because of her father's job, she lived in different places. She lived in Tennessee and California. She also attended high school in Havelock, North Carolina, and in Okinawa, Japan. She graduated from Kubasaki High School in 1991.
Kristin then went to the University of Idaho in Moscow. She studied sports physiology and earned her bachelor's degree in 1995. Today, she lives in Boise, Idaho.
Kristin is married to Joe Savola. Their son, Lucas William Savola, was born on September 15, 2010.
It is important to know that Kristin Armstrong is not related to fellow cyclist Lance Armstrong. They just happen to share the same last name.
Major Achievements
Kristin Armstrong has won many important races throughout her career. Here are some of her biggest wins:
- Olympic Gold Medals:
* 2008 Beijing Olympics – Time Trial * 2012 London Olympics – Time Trial * 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics – Time Trial
- World Championship Gold Medals:
* 2006 UCI Road World Championships – Time Trial * 2009 UCI Road World Championships – Time Trial
- National Championships:
* 2004 National Road Race Champion * 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015 National Time Trial Champion
- Other Key Wins:
* 2005 Pan American Time Trial Champion * Overall winner of the Nature Valley Grand Prix (2006, 2007, 2008) * Overall winner of the USA Pro Challenge (2015) * Overall winner of the Tour of the Gila (2006, 2009, 2012) * Overall winner of the North Star Grand Prix (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) * Overall winner of the Sea Otter Classic (2005, 2011)
See also
In Spanish: Kristin Armstrong para niños
