LANCE AMSTRONG

Biography

Lance Armstrong was born September 18, 1971, in Plano, Texas. He was predominantly raised by his mother Linda, who was married and divorced twice. Armstrong grew up in the suburbs of Dallas and took part in athletics at a young age. By age 13, he was competing in triathlons, which led to him turning pro at age 16.

But Armstrong soon found that he loved cycling more than running and swimming, and he chose to focus his energy on his favorite sport. Soon, the national cycling team took notice and invited young Lance to work out with them, while he was still a senior in high school.

lance wins first cycling championship

In 1991, he went on to capture the National Amateur Cycling Championship. Moreover, he won his first two major races that same year (First Union Grand Prix and Thrift Drug Classic).

After finishing second at the US time trials, Armstrong finished a disappointing 14th at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. But, he took the poor showing in stride, following it up by winning the US cycling's Triple Crown in 1993. In August, he became the youngest person to ever capture the grueling World Race Championships in Oslo, Norway.

Armstrong continued his climb to the top in 1994, finishing runner-up in the Tour Du Pont. The following year, he won the very same race with the largest margin of victory in the history of the race.

Armstrong's 1996 season was up and down. It included fatigue and bronchitis. He finished 12th in the road race at the Atlanta Olympic games and signed a lucrative sponsoring contract with Team Cofidis.

lance armstrong is diagnosed with cancer

But, in October of 1996, Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had spread to his brain and lungs. Doctors gave him a 40% chance of recovery. However, with successful surgery and chemotherapy, Armstrong was pronounced healthy in February of 1997.

Determined to prove that he could still perform at the level of all the top cyclists, Armstrong embarked on a rigorous training regimen, to prepare for a possible comeback. Cofidis dropped Armstrong, doubting his proclamation that he would be back and better than ever. The US Postal Service became his sponsor and agreed to pay him an annual salary of $200,000 ($400,000 less than what Cofidis would have paid him).

Armstrong returned to racing in 1998 and won several low-key races. But, it was his return to the Tour de France that would redefine his career. Leading from start to finish, Armstrong established a new average speed of 40.2 km and captured the title; the first of three consecutive wins.

cycling away from cancer

In 1998, Armstrong married Kristin Richard, after meeting her through working on the Lance Armstrong Foundation. She gave birth to their son Luke David in October of 1999. In July of 2001, the couple announced that they are expecting twins in December 2001, more good news to add to his 2001 Tour de France victory.

Armstrong's best-selling autobiography published in March 2000, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, also garnered him some much-deserved attention.

On October 18, 2001, five years after being diagnosed with cancer, Lance Armstrong received a clean bill of health. He continues to beat the disease; the disease never beat him.

lance armstrong wins tour de france, again

After his fourth consecutive Tour de France win (becoming the first American to achieve such a feat), Armstrong was named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year" in 2002. Two years later, Lance continued to make history, as the first and only cyclist to win the Tour de France six consecutive times. In July 2005, Lance donned the yellow jersey for the seventh time, marking his seventh consecutive Tour de France win and his last race before retiring.

On a personal note, Lance and Kristin filed for divorce in September of 2003. Lance is currently dating pop/rock musician Sheryl Crow.