A former triathlete, Armstrong ditched the pool and pavement pounding for cycling a few years ago. She's a time trial specialist, winning the Pan American Championship in 2005 and taking first at the World Time Trial Championship in 2006. Four years ago at the Olympics in Athens, Armstrong placed 8th in the road racing event. She came in a disappointing 25th in Beijing on what was a challenging, rain-soaked day of riding. When not riding for the stars and stripes, Armstrong is a member of Team Cervélo-Lifeforce. So, that leaves us with a 35-year-old from Boise who wins gold in one of the most challenging Olympic endurance events.
Yes, now let's talk about how she is an inspiration to girls and women and all of us. Let's talk about how she should be a role model or the spark that ignites women's cycling in our country. Let's point out that she along with Christine Thorburn, who placed fifth in the women's time trial, and the terrifically named Sarah Hammer, who will race the individual pursuit prelims today at the Laoshan Velodrome, are free of the ego and arrogance that often mar professional cycling. Let's talk about how much we would rather see posters of these women than of Britney or Paris on the walls of the rooms of our daughters. Let's hope that these games and these events and these women will become as known and respected and honored as that other Armstrong of cycling.
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