Kristin Armstrong(L) of the US crosses the finish line to win the women's cycling time trial at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008, who is not related to the seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong(R). [Agencies]

Chinese websites who had confused the 35-year-old American with Lance's ex-wife of the same name corrected the mistake immediately after the race.

In Beijing's sweltering heat, the American demonstrated her sprinting ability to clock a winning time of 34:51.72 for the title.

"It's the ride of my life. It's what I've dreamed about since I was a little kid. I had to stay focused on the descent and really push," said Armstrong.

"I broke the course into little pieces and worked corner to corner. All the work I've been doing on the track helped, too. I just broke it into three-kilometer intervals. I worried about my own race. I wanted to have everyone else race me."

Emma Pooley of Britain took the silver with the bronze going to Karin Thurig of Switzerland.