Lance Armstrong

Early Years

Lance was born in Plano, Texas, to Linda and Eddie Gunderson. The marriage was shortlived, however, and the couple divorced when Lance was still a toddler. Linda remarried Terry Armstrong soon after, and the man adopted young Lance. Although that marriage also ended in divorce, Lance retained the Armstrong name.

Lance Armstrong took an early interest in sports and cycling, and won his first triathlon, the Iron Kids Triathlon, when he was 13. He won his first adult-level triathlon at the tender age of 15. Lance Armstrong entered the professional tournaments when he was 16. While Lance thrived at triathlons, it was obvious that his cycling abilities surpassed his running and swimming. While still in high school, he trained with the Olympic cycling developmental team.

Fighting Cancer

Armstrong at a speaking engagement

In 1996, Lance's life and his career took a drastic detour when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Worse, tests showed that the cancer had already spread to his lungs, adbomen, and brain. Suddenly, the focused athlete had a far greater race on his hands: the race to save his life.

Despite dire predictions from doctors, Lance Armstrong never accepted that he may die. Instead, he fought the cancer with everything he had. Using the same gritty determination that had already won him numerous triathlete and cycling championships, Lance threw himself into treatments and rejuvenation. Though he ultimately lost a testicle to the disease, he won the battle for his life.

Professional Cycling

Just three years after he was diagnosed with cancer, Lance Armstrong was again cycling in professional tournaments. In 1999, he once again won the Tour de France. He went on to a record-breaking seven consecutive Tour de France wins.

Many have theorized that his wins are the result of his obsessive focus, a focus that helped him stave off cancer. Another contributing factor is his intensive preparation. Lance even traveled to France before each race to spend time on the actual trail.

In addition to the Tour de France, Lance has won the following:

• USPRO Championship
• World Championship
• Tour duPont
• Tour of Sweden
• Kmart West Virginia Classic
• Thrift Drug Classic
• Tour of America
• Tour de Luxembourg
• Cascade Classic
• 2000 Summer Olympics
• Tour de Suisse
• Tour de Georgia

Personal Life

Armstrong with Sheryl Crow

Lance Armstrong married Kristin Richard in June 1997. The couple seemed happy together and built a family that included one boy and twin girls. Behind the scenes, however, stress was taking its toll. The stress of time apart and life in the limelight led the couple to divorce in 2003.

Lance made tabloid headlines almost immediately, with reports alleging that he was dating singer Sheryl Crow. Throughout the couple's relationship, rumors of a break-up were in the tabloids just as often as rumors of an impending marriage. They became engaged in September 2005, but broke up just five months later. Ironically, Crow was diagnosed with cancer within days of the breakup.

Lance Armstrong Controversy

Allegations of drug use plagued Lance throughout much of his career. He has been repeatedly accused of using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Accusers have been as diverse as his personal masseuse, fellow cyclists, and a personal assistant. He has always denied these claims, even suing to clear his name. With the exception of a urine test in 1999, all of his drug tests have been clean. The 1999 test did show trace amounts of corticosteroids, but Armstrong had proof that he was under medical care.

Lance Armstrong Trivia

• He was named after a Dallas Cowboys football player, Lance Rentzel.
• Despite being opposed to the war in Iraq, he is friends with fellow Texan, President George W. Bush.
• He is an active advocate for cancer patients.
• He once considered running for the governorship of Texas.
• He is close friends with Matthew McConaughey.