Lance Armstrong is a world famous American cyclist. He is known best for winning the Tour de France a record-breaking seven times in a row. The previous record for total Tour de France championships was five by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, and Bernard Hinault.
He is also famous for having accomplished all of this, having survived testicular cancer. In 1996, he was diagnosed with the disease, with the cancer having spread to his brain, abdomen, and lungs. Armstrong was given a less than a fifty percent chance of survival. He had surgeries to remove his tumors and his diseased testicle, and despite the odds against him, he survived cancer and went on to become the most successful and famous cyclist ever.
He presently, heads the Lance Armstrong Foundation which aids people affected by cancer. The foundation is based in Austin, Texas where Armstrong makes his home. It has famously distributed millions of yellow LiveStrong wristbands, with the proceeds going to cancer research.
During his cycling career he has faced numerous allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. Armstrong denies such allegations and he has never tested positive for anything that would have disqualified him from his achievements.
In his personal life, he has been involved with many famous women, including
Sandra Bullock, Kristin Richards, Lisa Shiels, Sheryl Crow, Whitney Casey, Tory Burch,
Ashley Olsen, Anna Hansen, and
Kate Hudson. In 1997, he married Kristin Richards. They had three children together, Luke, Isabelle, and Grace. The marriage ended in 2003. He was once engaged to singer Sheryl Crow. Presently, Anna Hansen, Armstrong’s current girlfriend, is pregnant. They claim the baby was conceived naturally, despite the popular belief that Armstrong is no longer able to father any more children.
In 2008, he made his comeback to the world of cycling, with the goal of winning the 2009 Tour de France.
