Olympic Cyclist Sarah Hammer Wins in London

Olympic cyclist Sarah Hammer of Temecula, California won at the track cycling world championships in London on Friday.

Hammer and the U.S. team won its first medal of competition, beating Canada to take gold in the women's team pursuit.

The quartet of Hammer, Kelly Catlin, Chloe Dygert and Jennifer Valente led from start to finish to win in 4 minutes, 16.802 seconds. Britain was third.

Filippo Ganna announced his presence on the international stage with victory in the men's individual pursuit.

The Italian rider is only 19 years old but he bided his time to take the lead with 625 meters left, beating Domenic Weinstein in 4:16.441.

Anastasiia Voinova made a successful defense of her title in the women's 500 time trial, winning in 32.959.

Jonathan Dibben of Britain won the men's points race in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
 

After a very successful trip to the 2012 London Olympic Games, one local athlete is coming home with a couple of prestigious pieces of carry-on.

Sarah Hammer, of Temecula, Calif., returned from London Wednesday night, making her way through the San Diego International Airport before heading home to North County.

Hammer arrived home with two shiny new medals from the 2012 London Olympics.

She won a silver medal with the U.S. women’s pursuit track cycling team on August 4.

Her team – including teammates Dotsie Bausch and Jennie Reed -- secured silver, losing gold to the British team by just five seconds. The British team shattered the world record that day.

Hammer also earned silver in the cycling’s omnium, after a close race with Laura Trott of Great Britain.

In London, Hammer told NBC 7’s Steven Luke that medaling in the Olympics was a “surreal” experience.

“First emotions are I wanted that gold medal for sure and I gave it everything I had," Hammer told NBC 7’s Steven Luke just moments after competing.

"Can’t complain about a silver medal,” she added. “I now get to have 2 of these."

From a kid riding the country hills with her dad to one of the best the sport has ever seen, Hammer is a four-time world cycling champion and world record-holder.

However, she never had an Olympic medal until London.

“It's a surreal moment,” said Hammer at the games. “I've been wanting one of these things for a long time."

When she arrived at Lindbergh Field Wednesday night, Hammer was greeted with hugs and kisses from her parents. Some fans also asked the Olympic winner to pose for photographs at the airport.

Upon arriving in San Diego, Hammer said she was happy to be home -- and even happier about her two-medal haul from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“Success, it hasn’t always come. So this is truly what is never ever giving up on my dreams and just continuing to put in the hard work, and I got rewarded this time," Hammer told NBC 7 San Diego at the airport.

The Olympic silver medalist said she plans to go on vacation with her husband to celebrate everything she has accomplished.

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