No need to be a freak to win gold, says victorious Van Vleuten

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Cycling - Road - Women's Individual Time Trial - Final - Fuji International Speedway - Shizuoka, Japan - July 28, 2021. Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands celebrates winning gold. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

OYAMA TOWN: Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten said it was not necessary to be “a freak” to win an Olympic gold medal after finally bagging her first on Wednesday at the age of 38.

The three-time world champion has suffered Olympic heartache before, most recently on Sunday when she celebrated “victory” when she crossed the line in the road race, only to discover she had actually finished second.