BEIJING (AP) - Kristin Armstrong of the United States has won the gold medal in the women's time trial, making her just the second American women's cyclist to become an Olympic champion.

Armstrong, of Boise finished the 14.6-mile course in 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds Wednesday — 24.29 seconds better than Emma Pooley of Great Britain. Switzerland's Karin Thuerig was third, almost a minute behind the time set by Armstrong.

Armstrong was the only woman close to Pooley at the halfway mark, and erased the gap before reaching the finish at the Great Wall. She joins Connie Carpenter-Phinney as the only American women to win Olympic cycling gold; Carpenter won the road race at Los Angeles 24 years ago.