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Who Is Lance Armstrong?
Lance Armstrong is a former professional cyclist known for his remarkable comeback from cancer and subsequent dominance in the sport, as well as the doping scandal that eventually overshadowed his achievements. Armstrong initially gained attention as a triathlete before focusing on cycling, where he enjoyed early success. However, his career took a significant turn when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which he overcame before returning to the sport in 1999. He went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles, a feat that made him an international star. Unfortunately, these victories were later stripped due to evidence of performance-enhancing drug use, which Armstrong admitted to in 2013 after years of denial.
Early Career and Rise in Cycling
Born on September 18, 1971, in Plano, Texas, Armstrong was raised by his mother and developed a passion for sports from a young age. By 13, he was already competing in triathlons, and by 16, he had turned professional, winning national titles in sprint-course triathlons in 1989 and 1990. His prowess on the bike led him to focus solely on cycling, and during his senior year of high school, he trained with the U.S. Olympic development team.
Armstrong’s early career saw rapid success. In 1990, he qualified for the junior world team, finishing 11th in the World Championship Road Race and becoming the U.S. national amateur champion. His victories in major American races against seasoned professionals confirmed his potential.
Breakthrough on the International Stage
Armstrong’s international breakthrough came in 1991 when he competed in the Tour DuPont, an arduous 12-stage race. Although he finished mid-pack, his performance hinted at his potential. In 1993, Armstrong won cycling’s prestigious “Triple Crown” and made his debut in the Tour de France, where he won a stage but ultimately withdrew from the race.
One of his career highlights came in August 1993 when Armstrong, at just 21, won the World Road Race Championship in Oslo, Norway, becoming the youngest cyclist to ever win the title. This victory solidified his place among the world’s top cyclists.
In the years that followed, Armstrong continued to achieve impressive results. He won the 1995 Tour DuPont, setting records for the largest margin of victory and fastest time trial speed.
Setbacks and the Fight Against Cancer
Despite his growing success, Armstrong faced significant setbacks in 1996. That year, he struggled with illness, including bronchitis during the Tour de France, and his performance at the Atlanta Olympics was lackluster. However, his career was abruptly halted later that year when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had spread to his lungs and brain.
Battling Testicular Cancer
In October 1996, Lance Armstrong faced a life-altering diagnosis: testicular cancer. The cancer had advanced significantly, spreading to his abdomen, lungs, and lymph nodes. Armstrong immediately underwent surgery to remove a testicle, drastically changed his diet, and began aggressive chemotherapy treatments. Initially, doctors gave him a 65 to 85 percent chance of survival. However, when tumors were discovered on his brain, his survival odds dropped to 50-50, and then to 40 percent.
Fortunately, after a successful surgery to remove the brain tumors and several rounds of chemotherapy, Armstrong was declared cancer-free in February 1997. Despite the harrowing battle with cancer, Armstrong remained determined to return to competitive cycling. Nevertheless, his team, Cofidis, terminated his contract, leaving him without sponsorship and his $600,000 annual salary. Eventually, he signed a $200,000 contract with the United States Postal Service cycling team, marking the beginning of his comeback.
Tour de France Dominance
Armstrong’s first international race post-cancer, the 1998 Tour of Luxembourg, demonstrated his resilience, as he won the opening stage. His ultimate comeback came in 1999 when he became the second American to win the Tour de France, following in the footsteps of Greg LeMond. Armstrong repeated this feat in 2000, also earning a bronze medal at the Summer Olympic Games.
He solidified his legacy as the dominant rider of his generation with consecutive Tour de France victories in 2001 and 2002. However, his quest for a fifth title, which would tie the record held by cycling legends Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain, proved challenging. A pre-race illness, a fall caused by a spectator’s bag, and a near miss with another crash tested Armstrong’s resolve. Despite these setbacks, he triumphed, winning the Tour by just over a minute, his closest margin of victory.
Armstrong returned to his best form in 2004, claiming his sixth Tour win, a record-breaking achievement. He secured five individual stage wins and finished the race six minutes and 19 seconds ahead of Germany’s Andreas Kloden. In 2005, Armstrong capped his historic run with a seventh consecutive Tour de France victory before retiring from professional racing.
Return to Competition
On September 9, 2008, Armstrong shocked the sports world by announcing his return to professional cycling and the Tour de France for the 2009 season. As a member of Team Astana, he finished third, behind teammate Alberto Contador and Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck. After the race, Armstrong confirmed his intention to compete in 2010 with a new team sponsored by RadioShack. However, plagued by crashes, he finished 23rd in what would be his final Tour de France. Armstrong officially retired from competition in February 2011.
Drug Controversy
Despite Armstrong’s inspirational story of triumph over cancer, suspicions about his use of performance-enhancing drugs began to surface. Irish sportswriter David Walsh was among the first to raise questions, linking Armstrong to Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, who was under investigation for supplying performance-enhancing drugs to cyclists. Walsh’s 2001 article and later his 2004 book L.A. Confidential presented evidence against Armstrong, including testimony from his former masseuse, Emma O’Reilly.
The controversy deepened in 2010 when former U.S. Postal Service team member Floyd Landis, who had been stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping, admitted to his own drug use and accused Armstrong of similar practices. This admission prompted a federal investigation, and in June 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) formally charged Armstrong with doping violations.
In July 2012, reports emerged that five of Armstrong’s former teammates—George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, and others—were prepared to testify against him. Armstrong vehemently denied the charges, dismissing them as “baseless.”
On August 23, 2012, Armstrong announced that he would no longer contest the USADA’s charges. In a statement, he explained his decision: “There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ For me, that time is now.” He emphasized the toll the allegations had taken on his family, his work with his foundation, and his personal life, concluding that he was “finished with this nonsense.”
Banned from Cycling: The Lance Armstrong Scandal
On August 24, 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Lance Armstrong would be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, along with other accolades he earned between 1999 and 2005, and banned from cycling for life. This decision followed a comprehensive investigation, in which the USADA concluded that Armstrong had used banned performance-enhancing substances throughout his career. On October 10, 2012, the agency released a report detailing its evidence, including laboratory tests, emails, and financial records. According to Travis Tygart, USADA’s CEO, “The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalized, and successful doping program that the sport had ever seen.”
The case against Armstrong was further supported by testimonies from 26 individuals, including former teammates, who alleged that Armstrong was not only involved in doping but also led the team’s doping efforts. A former teammate noted that “Lance called the shots on the team” and that “what Lance said went.” Armstrong, however, rejected the USADA’s conclusions. His lawyer, Tim Herman, called the case “a one-sided hatchet job” filled with unreliable claims and testimony from individuals motivated by personal grievances.
Following the release of USADA’s findings, the International Cycling Union (ICU) backed the agency’s decision and formally stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles. Pat McQuaid, then-president of the ICU, stated, “Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling.”
Admission and Subsequent Events
In January 2013, Armstrong appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” where he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. He confessed to using substances like cortisone, testosterone, and erythropoietin (EPO) and undergoing blood transfusions to enhance his oxygen levels. Armstrong described himself as “deeply flawed” and acknowledged his ruthless desire to win at any cost.
The U.S. Department of Justice soon became involved, joining an existing lawsuit accusing Armstrong of defrauding the government, as his team was sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service. Despite attempts to dismiss the case, Armstrong faced a trial that was scheduled for early 2017.
Fraud Settlement
In 2018, just two weeks before the trial, Armstrong agreed to pay $5 million to settle the fraud claims brought by the U.S. Postal Service. His legal team emphasized that the settlement resolved all litigation related to his doping admission. Armstrong expressed relief at the resolution, stating, “While I believe their lawsuit against me was without merit and unfair, I have since 2013 tried to take full responsibility for my mistakes.” The whistle-blower in the case, former teammate Floyd Landis, received $1.1 million of the settlement.
Media and Documentaries
Armstrong’s fall from grace became the subject of multiple films and documentaries. In 2015, the biopic The Program, starring Ben Foster as Armstrong, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Armstrong, however, offered little commentary, only criticizing Foster’s decision to take performance-enhancing drugs to prepare for the role.
More positively, Armstrong responded to the release of the Netflix documentary Icarus in 2017, which exposed a state-sponsored doping program in Russia. Armstrong praised the film’s director, Bryan Fogel, on social media, calling the documentary “incredible.”
In 2020, Armstrong’s story was further examined in the Marina Zenovich-directed documentary Lance, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later aired on ESPN. The film explored Armstrong’s journey, his competitive drive, and how he attempted to rebuild his public image after his scandal.
Charity and Personal Life
Armstrong has resided in Austin, Texas, since 1990 and is the founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, now known as Livestrong, which focuses on cancer research and support. In addition to his charity work, Armstrong authored two autobiographies: It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life (2000) and Every Second Counts (2003). Despite his tarnished reputation, Armstrong remained involved in charitable events, including competing in the 2015 Tour de France leukemia charity ride.
His personal life has also attracted attention. Armstrong was married to Kristin Richard from 1998 to 2003, with whom he had three children. He has since been involved in relationships with singer Sheryl Crow, designer Tory Burch, and actress Kate Hudson. Armstrong and his current partner, Anna Hansen, have two children together.
Despite his public fall, Armstrong continues to be a complex figure, whose influence in cycling and charity remains significant, even as he continues to reckon with the consequences of his actions.