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A San Diego cyclist Jennifer Valente has become the first American woman to win a track cycling Olympic gold medal, reports City News Service.
On Sunday, August 8, Valente won the four-event omnium, which is based on a point system.
"Olympic gold? It's hard to believe, it'll sink in eventually but it hasn't quite yet," Valente told reporters at the Izu Velodrome.
Valente took the lead in the final lap on the opening event. She finished the 7.5-kilometer, 30-lap scratch race in nine minutes and 16 seconds.
She came in third place in the second event and finished fourth in the third event.
According to CNS, Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed's bicycle wheels crossed with Valente's, knocking them both down.
Valente was able to recover quickly and used several free laps to back into the race.
"I think there was a moment of panic and just trying to take a breath and assess the situation and figure out where I was at and where it put me," said Valente. "Then I just kept fighting the last 20 laps."
Valente finished the omnium with 124 points, winning the gold.
"There were probably 100 emotions running through me, and I think the biggest thing is that none of them had really set in yet," Valente said. "I don't know if they still have set in and to understand what it means to be an Olympic champion. It's been really emotional, and it's been a long five years, and I'm so happy to get this result."