Her day job is director of community health at St. Luke's Health System's West Region in Idaho.
But cyclist Kristin Armstrong won a place in Olympic history in Rio, joining speedskater Bonnie Blair as the only American women to win three gold medals in the same event at any Olympics, grabbing her third-consecutive time trial gold.
And now, Armstrong, who turned 43 the day after winning her latest gold, says it's time to retire.
“Any athlete would like to keep coming back, but there does come a point where you won't be able to perform at that level any longer,” Armstrong told the Associated Press.
She also has a life at home in Boise that beckons her. Lucas, her 5-year-old son, was at the finish line along the Brazilian coast to greet his mom, and Armstrong enjoys doting on him too much to spend so much time away. And she wants to spend more time doing the kind of outreach that truly drives her these days.
“Working at a great hospital in Boise, Idaho, and being a mom has been my secret weapon. It provides me balance and it keeps me on track and it keeps me superfocused,” she told National Public Radio.
“It's a dream job. I love it.
“And I'll go on with my legacy—being to help improve the health of people in Idaho,” Armstrong told the AP.
Her athletic accomplishments have made her a bit of a hometown celebrity. Every time Armstrong goes to a grocery store back home, an in-and-out trip to grab milk and eggs turns into an hourlong odyssey. People want to stop and chitchat, and Armstrong has a hard time saying no—especially to the kids.
“My husband will be like, 'Where did you really go?' ” Armstrong said. “I spend time with people in my community, and that's what I'm grateful for. One of the things I can't wait for is my next school visit and to talk to kids and show them my gold medal. I can't wait.”
