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Jennifer Valente closed out the Olympic Video games with a bang Sunday to defend her omnium title within the last day of racing in Paris.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic omnium champion already gained gold in group pursuit and was fourth within the Madison this week. Valente raced tactically in 4 mass-start races to snag her fifth profession Olympic medal.
“It’s been an extended week of racing, with some sturdy performances. I’m thrilled that I used to be in a position to pull it off on the final day. I’m excited,” she mentioned. “It’s the top of my profession to win one other Olympic gold medal. There may be nothing higher than this.”
Valente earned the utmost 40 factors within the scratch race and elimination race and was second within the tempo race for 38 factors. She closed out with 26 within the factors race, giving her greater than sufficient to carry off a problem from Poland’s Daria Pikulik.
Valente completed with 144 factors to take the gold, 13 greater than the 131 compiled by Pikulik to say silver. New Zealand’ s Ally Wollaston gained the bronze with 125 factors.
Valente mentioned she pushed it till the very finish.
“You’re all the time petrified of the likelihood that somebody might simply make a soar on the final minute, and take it away from you,” she mentioned. “It’s definitely not over till it’s all the best way over, and bunch racing will be so unpredictable.”
Group USA now has gained an Olympic medal at every of the 4 Olympic Video games have been ladies have competed within the omnium. Sarah Hammer took silver in London 2012 and Rio 2016, whereas Valente has introduced dwelling gold within the final two Video games.
Group USA closes out the Paris Olympics with six biking medals, essentially the most in a non-boycott trendy Video games.
Valente demurred when requested if she would race in Los Angeles 2028, saying that her first precedence was making it to the closing ceremony in time.
Outcomes:
1. Jennifer Valente (USA)
2. Daria Pikulik (POL)
3. Ally Wollaston (NZL)
