Kristin Armstrong speaks at Simplot Games breakfast

Day two of the Simplot Games kicked off Friday morning for the athletes with a breakfast with the Olympians. Kristin Armstrong was the guest speaker.

Armstrong is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. She won gold three consecutive years in cycling. She has become one of the most decorated U.S. female cyclists.

Armstrong, who lives in Boise, spoke to the athletes about her journey to each of her Olympic appearances. She spoke about the trials she faced and the lessons she learned from each and every race.

Armstrong has faced hip problems, arbitration issues and even a broken collarbone just weeks before Olympic trials. She was able to overcome all of them and be the decorated medalist she is.

She gave the athletes some advice on how she was able to overcome it all and achieve her dream of being on the podium.

Armstrong told the athletes it’s important to have goals, but it’s more important to have a vision. She also said without commitment, excellence cannot be achieved.

She said she has also learned it takes a team – no one has to take their Olympic journey, or any journey, alone. She said everyone needs a support team to keep them going through the tough times.

Armstrong said most importantly, never let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Anything is possible and she said she is proof of that.

“I think that everyone thinks that to be a world-class athlete, you have to be different. And, it’s not true,” Armstrong said. “I was that normal person, that normal athlete, that no coach ever told me that I was going to be the next Olympic athlete or let alone, even get a collegian scholarship.”

Armstrong officially retired from the sport after her 2016 Olympic win. She said even though she has come back out of supposed retirement before, this time she’s done. She said Tokyo 2020 is not on the agenda for her.