Grace Brown has dominated the women’s individual time trial event to win Australia’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The 32-year-old cyclist, who will retire at the end of this season, clocked 39 minutes 38.24 seconds over the 32.4km course in the heart of Paris.
She was a whopping 1:31.59 ahead of British rider Anna Henderson who secured the silver, while American Chloe Dygert was third.
Brown is Australia’s first gold medallist in road cycling since Sara Carrigan won the women’s road race at the 2004 Olympics.
The podium finish is also Australia first at this year’s Olympics and puts the country second on the medal tally behind China.
Brown had placed just outside the top three finishers in the women’s time trial in Tokyo and declared going into these Olympics that missing out on a medal again would be a disappointment.
Despite rainy conditions which led to a handful of accidents involving other riders, Brown said she rode a near-flawless race.
‘I really think I did,’ she told reporters after the event.
Grace Brown has won gold for Australia on day one of the Paris Olympics
‘I had a plan to pace the race to win gold and I was able to execute my plan, pretty much to perfection, if not better.
‘Can’t ask for a better day. It’s raining, but really, it’s not dampening my spirits.’
Brown confirmed she had no intention to reverse her decision to retire, despite the win.
‘It just makes me really proud of everything that I’ve done,’ she said. ‘I know that I’ve come here and given it everything and it’s paid off. And I can finish my career really satisfied.’
She was a huge 1:31.59 ahead of silver medallist British rider Anna Henderson
