Lance Armstrong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lance Armstrong

Armstrong before the 2009 Tour Down Under
Personal information
Full name	Lance Edward Armstrong
Nickname	Le Boss Big Tex
Born	(1971-09-18) September 18, 1971 (age 53) Richardson, Texas, U.S.
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight	75 kg (165 lb)
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tour Tour de France 2 individual stages (1993, 1995) Stage races Tour de Luxembourg (1998) Tour DuPont (1995, 1996) One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championships (1993) National Road Race Championships (1993) Clásica de San Sebastián (1995) La Flèche Wallonne (1996) Trofeo Laigueglia (1993)

Lance Edward Armstrong (born September 18, 1971) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. He became famous for winning the Tour de France seven times in a row from 1999 to 2005. However, his titles were taken away in 2012. Because of this, Armstrong is now banned from all official cycling events for life.

When he was 16, Armstrong started competing in triathlons. He won national sprint-course triathlon championships in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, he began his career as a professional cyclist with the Motorola team. Between 1993 and 1996, Armstrong had many wins. These included the World Championship in 1993 and the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995. He also won the Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996. He also won a few stages in Europe, like stage 8 of the 1993 Tour de France and stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France.

In 1996, doctors found that he had testicular cancer. After getting better, Armstrong started the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This foundation is now called the Livestrong Foundation and helps other cancer survivors. Armstrong returned to cycling in 1998. He was part of the US Postal/Discovery team from 1998 to 2005. During this time, he won his seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong stopped racing after the 2005 Tour de France. But he came back to competitive cycling with the Astana team in January 2009. He finished third in the 2009 Tour de France that same year. From 2010 to 2011, he raced with Team Radio Shack. He then retired for a second time in 2011.

He later received a lifetime ban from all sports, which ended his cycling career. The International Cycling Union (UCI) supported this decision. They also decided that his stripped wins would not be given to other riders.

Early Life and Health Journey

Armstrong was born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971. He was born in Richardson, Texas. His parents divorced when he was two. The next year, his mother married Terry Keith Armstrong, who adopted Lance.

Battling Cancer

On October 3, 1996, Armstrong had surgery to remove a tumor. Doctors told him his chances of survival were very low. After getting advice from another doctor, Armstrong decided to get the rest of his treatment in Indianapolis. His last chemotherapy treatment was on December 13, 1996. In January 1997, Armstrong surprised everyone by showing up at a training camp for his new team, Cofidis. He rode 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) with his teammates. In February 1997, he was declared cancer-free.

Later that year, his contract with Cofidis was not renewed. A former boss offered him a contract with the US Postal team. By January 1998, Armstrong was training seriously for racing again. He moved to Europe with his new team.

Cycling Career Highlights

Starting Out in Cycling

Armstrong (center left) during an amateur race in 1990.

From 1987 to 1988, Armstrong was the top triathlete in his age group. At 16, he became a professional triathlete. He won national sprint-course triathlon championships in 1989 and 1990.

Motorola Team: 1992–1996

In 1992, Armstrong became a professional cyclist with the Motorola Cycling Team. In 1993, he won 10 races. His biggest win was the World Road Race Championship in Norway. Before that, he won his first stage in the 1993 Tour de France. He also won the Thrift Drug Triple Crown of Cycling.

In 1994, he won the Thrift Drug Classic again. He also came second in the Tour DuPont in the United States. In Europe, he placed second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Clásica de San Sebastián. He finished 7th at the World Championships.

He won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995. He also won the Tour DuPont and several stages in Europe. This included a stage in the 1995 Tour de France dedicated to his teammate Fabio Casartelli, who had died in a crash.

Armstrong had similar success in 1996. He was the first American to win the La Flèche Wallonne. He also won the Tour DuPont again. However, he could only race for five days in the Tour de France that year. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, he finished 6th in the time trial. In August 1996, he signed a big deal with the French Cofidis team. Two months later, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.

US Postal/Discovery Team: 1998–2005

Before his cancer treatment, Armstrong had raced in four Tour de France events. He won two stages. After getting sick, he left the 1996 Tour before his cancer diagnosis.

Armstrong finishing third in Sète in 2002.

Armstrong's cycling comeback started in 1998. He tried to race in the Paris–Nice but had to stop. He then went back to Texas and thought about retiring. After some time, Armstrong trained hard in the Appalachian Mountains. In May 1998, he held his second charity race for cancer research.

He then won the Tour of Luxembourg. During the 1998 Vuelta a España, Armstrong surprised everyone by finishing 4th overall. He also finished 4th in both the road race and time trial at the World Championships.

In 1999, he won the Tour de France, including four stages. He beat the second-place rider by over seven minutes. In 2000, other top riders like Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani returned. Armstrong won the Tour de France again, beating Ullrich by six minutes. He won one stage in the 2000 Tour. In 2001, Armstrong won again, beating Ullrich by over six minutes. In 2002, Ullrich was not in the race. Armstrong won by seven minutes over Joseba Beloki.

Armstrong riding the prologue of the 2004 Tour de France.

In 2003, Armstrong won the Tour de France for the fifth time. Ullrich finished second, just over a minute behind. Armstrong's team won the team time trial. During one stage, Armstrong almost crashed but managed to stay on his bike. He won stage 15, even after a spectator's bag caused him to fall. Ullrich waited for him, which was seen as good sportsmanship.

In 2004, Armstrong won his sixth Tour de France. He finished over six minutes ahead of Andreas Klöden. Armstrong won a personal best of five individual stages that year. He also won the team time trial. He became the first cyclist since 1948 to win three mountain stages in a row.

Armstrong wearing the yellow jersey at the 2005 Tour de France.

In 2005, Armstrong won his seventh Tour de France in a row. He finished 4 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of Ivan Basso. His average speed was the fastest in the race's history. Armstrong announced he would retire after the 2005 Tour de France. He wanted to spend more time with his family and his foundation. He returned to cycling in 2008 after seeing another cyclist win.

Return to Cycling

Astana Pro Team: 2009

Armstrong announced on September 9, 2008, that he would return to professional cycling. His goal was to race in the 2009 Tour de France. He said he would race for no salary and share his blood test results online.

Armstrong riding for Astana on Stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France.

In January 2009, Armstrong competed in the UCI Tour Down Under in Australia. He had to leave a race in Spain after crashing and breaking his collarbone. He had surgery and was back on his bike within four days.

In the 2009 Tour de France, Armstrong's Astana team won the team time trial. Armstrong finished third overall in the Tour de France. Only Andy Schleck and his teammate Alberto Contador finished ahead of him.

Team RadioShack: 2010–2011

Armstong riding in the 2010 Tour de France in his RadioShack jersey.

On July 21, 2009, Armstrong said he would return to the Tour de France in 2010. RadioShack became the main sponsor for his new team. Armstrong started his 2010 season at the 2010 Tour Down Under. He finished 25th. He also raced in Europe but had to withdraw from some races due to illness.

He returned to the United States to prepare for the Tour de France. However, he crashed during the Tour of California and had to leave the race. After recovering, he showed good form. He placed second in the 2010 Tour de Suisse and third in the Tour of Luxembourg.

On June 28, Armstrong announced that the 2010 Tour de France would be his last. He performed well in the opening time trial, finishing fourth. However, he lost time due to crashes in later stages. He finished his last Tour in 23rd place. He also helped Team RadioShack win the team competition.

In October, he announced the end of his international career after the 2011 Tour Down Under in January 2011. He said he would only race in the U.S. after that. Armstrong officially retired from competitive cycling for good on February 16, 2011.

Working with Michele Ferrari

Armstrong faced criticism for working with trainer Michele Ferrari. Ferrari was banned from working with cyclists by the Italian Cycling Federation. However, Armstrong continued to meet with him. Reports later showed that Ferrari played a big role in Armstrong's Tour de France success.

Personal Life

Armstrong (center) on the set of College GameDay in 2006.

Armstrong has homes in Austin, Texas, and Aspen, Colorado. He also owns a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

Family Life

Armstrong met Kristin Richard in June 1997. They married on May 1, 1998. They had three children: a son (born October 1999) and twin daughters (born November 2001). The couple divorced in 2003. In 2005, his children flew to Paris for the Tour de France ceremony. His son helped him lift the trophy.

After his divorce, Lance dated singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. They announced their engagement in September 2005 but split up in February 2006. In July 2008, Armstrong started dating Anna Hansen. They met through his charity work. They have a son (born June 2009) and a daughter (born October 2010). They got married on August 9, 2022.

Involvement in Politics

President George W. Bush and Armstrong mountain biking in 2005.

Some people thought Armstrong might run for Governor of Texas after his cycling career. He was friends with former president George W. Bush. Bush called Armstrong to congratulate him after his 2005 victory. However, Armstrong later said he was no longer thinking about politics. He explained that politics would take too much time away from his children, just like cycling did.

In 2007, Armstrong made a YouTube video with former President George H. W. Bush. They worked to pass a law in Texas that created a cancer research institute. Armstrong also supported a campaign in California to raise money for cancer research. He endorsed Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke in the 2018 election.

Other Activities

In 1997, Armstrong started the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This foundation helps people affected by cancer. It has raised over $325 million by selling yellow Livestrong bracelets.

During his first retirement, he also pursued other interests. He drove the pace car for the 2006 Indianapolis 500 race. In 2007, Armstrong helped start Athletes for Hope. This charity helps professional athletes get involved in good causes. It also encourages others to volunteer.

Armstrong ran the New York City Marathon in 2006, finishing in under three hours. He said it was very hard compared to the Tour de France. He also ran the 2007 NYC Marathon and the Boston Marathon in 2008.

In 2011, Armstrong returned to triathlon. He competed in the off-road XTERRA Triathlon race series. In 2012, he tried to qualify for the 2012 Ironman World Championship. However, his ban from sports stopped him from racing in Ironman events. In 2011 and 2013, Armstrong took part in a non-competitive bike ride across Iowa.

Business Ventures

Armstrong is also a businessman and investor. He owns a coffee shop called "Juan Pelota Cafe" in Austin, Texas. He also owns a bike shop called "Mellow Johnny's" in the same building. The bike shop's name comes from "maillot jaune," which is French for yellow jersey.

In 2001, Armstrong helped fund Wonders & Worries. This group helps children whose parents have serious illnesses. A line of cycling clothes from Nike was named 10//2. This name refers to October 2, 1996, the day he was diagnosed with cancer.

In 2008, Armstrong bought shares in SRAM Corporation, a bike part maker. He also owns a small part of Trek Bicycle Corporation. In 2009, Armstrong invested in a company called Lowercase Capital. This company later invested in Uber. When Uber became a public company, Armstrong earned a lot of money. He said it "saved our family."

Media Appearances

In 2017, Armstrong started a podcast called "The Move." It covered the Tour de France in 2018 and 2019. He also appeared on NBC Sports Network's Tour de France TV broadcasts. The UCI said these appearances did not break the rules of his ban.

Career Achievements

Major Road Cycling Results

Grand Tour Results Timeline

Grand Tour	1993	1994	1995	1996	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12	—
Tour de France	DNF	DNF	36	DNF	—	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	—	—	—	3	23
/ Vuelta a España	—	—	—	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Triathlon and Ironman Results

1989

• 2nd Bud Light U.S. Triathlon Series (USTS)–Miami (Olympic Distance)
• 1st National Sprint Course Triathlon

1990

• 1st National Sprint Course Triathlon

2011

• 5th XTERRA USA Championships

2012

• 1st Ironman 70.3 Hawaii
• 1st Ironman 70.3 Florida
• 3rd Ironman 70.3 St. Croix
• 7th Ironman 70.3 Texas
• 2nd Ironman 70.3 Panama
• 2nd Power of Four Mountain Bike Race

Mountain Bike Results

2008

• 1st 12 Hours of Snowmass
• 2nd Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race

2009

• 1st Colorado Pro Cross-Country Championships
• 1st Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race

Film and TV Appearances

• Road to Paris (2001), a documentary
• DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story (2004), a small role
• You, Me and Dupree (2006), a small role
• The Armstrong Lie (2013), a documentary
• Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story (2014), a documentary
• The Program (2015), a movie about his life
• Tour de Pharmacy (2017), playing himself in a funny way
• 30 for 30: Lance (2020), a documentary

Awards and Honors

• United States Olympic Committee (USOC) SportsMan of the Year (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
• World's Most Outstanding Athlete Award, Jesse Owens International Trophy (2000)
• Reuters Sportsman of the Year (2003)
• Prince of Asturias Award in Sports (2000)
• Sports Ethics Fellows by the Institute for International Sport (2003)
• Mendrisio d'Or Award in Switzerland (1999)
• Premio Coppi-Bici d'Oro Trophy by the Fausto Coppi foundation (1999, 2000)
• Marca Legend Award by Marca, a Spanish sports newspaper (2004)
• ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
• ESPY Award for GMC Professional Grade Play Award (2005)
• ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete (2000)
• ESPN/Intersport's ARETE Award for Courage in Sport (1999)
• ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year (1999)
• Favorite Athlete award at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (2006)
• Presidential Delegation to the XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002)
• Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year (2002)
• VeloNews magazine's International Cyclist of the Year (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
• VeloNews magazine's North American Male Cyclist of the Year (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005)
• William Hill Sports Book of the Year: It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life (2000)
• Triathlon magazine's Rookie of the Year (1988)
• Pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500 (2006)
• An asteroid, 1994 JE₉, was named 12373 Lancearmstrong in his honor.
• Six-mile Lance Armstrong Bikeway through downtown Austin, Texas, built by the city of Austin.
• Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award (1999)
• Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under (2001)

Awards that were taken back:

• BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award (2003)
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Tufts University (2006)
• Key to the city of Adelaide (2012)
• Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year Winner (2003)
• Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year Winner (2000)
• Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year Nominated (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
• Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year Nominated (2010)
• Grand Prix Serge-Kampf de l'Académie des sports (France, 2004)
• Légion d'honneur (France, 2005)
• Vélo d'Or Award by Velo magazine in France (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)

See also

• Cycling records