IZU, JAPAN (REUTERS) - American Jennifer Valente recovered from a late crash to land an historic gold in the women's omnium as a gripping week of track cycling concluded at the Izu Velodrome on Sunday (Aug 8).

The 26-year-old showed true grit to climb back off the boards and become the first American woman to win an Olympic track title and the first from her country to do so since 2000.