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In October of 1996, number-one ranked cyclist in the world Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer after an excruciating pain he felt while riding his bike. Doctors found that the cancer had spread to his lungs and his brain and was considered potentially life-threatening. In addition to two operations (one to remove the cancerous testicle, another to remove the cancer from the back of his brain), Armstrong was given a more potent, borderline experimental form of chemotherapy to combat the cancer. The treatment was successful, and only five months after his diagnosis he began riding once again.

People around the world have been clamoring to get their hands on rubber bracelets, symbols of Lance's drive to earn money and support for his charity, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), which raises cancer awareness and gives aid and support to those in need. The "Livestrong" bracelet, a yellow band bearing that same word, has been sought after by the masses as both a fashion statement and as their own personal display of their support for Lance's foundation. At times, the bracelets have been in such demand that his website (http://www.laf.org/) has had them backordered for months and counterfeiters have profited by selling fakes. So far, the LAF has sold more than 40 million bands, gaining supporters across the globe.

Born on September 18, 1971, in Plano, Texas, Armstrong began taking part in athletic activities at a youthful age. By 13, he was entering triathlons, later focusing on cycling and turning pro at 16. He won the National Amateur Cycling Championship in 1991, but the following year he finished 14th at the Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona. He rebounded in 1993, winning the Pro Cycling Tour's Triple Crown (major sponsored races in New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco). Lance also raced the European circuit eight months out of the year, spending the rest of the year at his home in Austin, Texas. In 1996, he suffered from fatigue and bronchitis, once again disappointing in the Olympic games, finishing in 12th place. Later that year he would be diagnosed with cancer.

Prior to his return to racing, the U.S. Postal Service picked up his sponsorship, and he was back at it in 1998. In 1999 he won his first of six consecutive Tour de France races in dominant fashion, leading the entire way; and in 2001 Armstrong was given a clean bill of health--free of cancer for five years. In 2004, Lance won his record sixth consecutive Tour de France, a feat never matched.

Building on his six victories, Armstrong has stated that after the 2005 tour he will retire. During that race he dominated the rest of the field for nearly the entire way and clinched an easy win for his seventh consecutive, and final, Tour de France.

In addition to cycling, Lance also sits on the President's Cancer Panel; and he has written a best-selling autobiography It's Not About the Bike. He lives in Austin, Texas, and has three children with ex-wife Kristin. He is currently dating rock singer Sheryl Crow, whose new album Wildflower gets its title from her song of the same name, that Armstrong inspired her to write.
Kevin Michaels
Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong made headlines not only as one of the world's foremost athletes -- with prowess to rival almost any other individual in his chosen sport -- but for his ability to overcome a seemingly insurmountable and devastating obstacle that life thrust into his path. Born and raised in Plano, TX, Armstrong gravitated to strenuous physical activity at an early age, winning the Kids Triathlon at 13. By his late teens, he had established himself as a professional athlete; his focus and attention gravitated away from his high school studies to such a degree that he almost failed to graduate, and he began training doggedly with the U.S. Olympics Cycling Development Team. In successive years, Armstrong racked up a plethora of awards and honors that included multiple Tour de France victories, competition in the Olympics, and -- eventually -- the title of No. 1 racing cyclist in the world. Tragically, in the late '90s, Armstrong's life bottomed out when he received a diagnosis of seemingly irreversible testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs. Never one to take such hardships lying down, Armstrong opted for an extreme form of chemotherapy that, astonishingly, wiped out all of the cancer and brought him back to 100, despite a slim chance of recovery. He then continued to pursue his racing career for some time -- before retiring indefinitely -- and plunged headfirst into cancer research and social activism on the side.

Cinematically, Armstrong also appeared in occasional features, usually cast in cameos as himself, including Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) and You, Me and Dupree (2006). In 2005, he hosted a special episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong made headlines not only as one of the world's foremost athletes -- with prowess to rival almost any other individual in his chosen sport -- but for his ability to overcome a seemingly insurmountable and devastating obstacle that life thrust into his path. Born and raised in Plano, TX, Armstrong gravitated to strenuous physical activity at an early age, winning the Kids Triathlon at 13. By his late teens, he had established himself as a professional athlete; his focus and attention gravitated away from his high school studies to such a degree that he almost failed to graduate, and he began training doggedly with the U.S. Olympics Cycling Development Team. In successive years, Armstrong racked up a plethora of awards and honors that included multiple Tour de France victories, competition in the Olympics, and -- eventually -- the title of No. 1 racing cyclist in the world. Tragically, in the late '90s, Armstrong's life bottomed out when he received a diagnosis of seemingly irreversible testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs. Never one to take such hardships lying down, Armstrong opted for an extreme form of chemotherapy that, astonishingly, wiped out all of the cancer and brought him back to 100, despite a slim chance of recovery. He then continued to pursue his racing career for some time -- before retiring indefinitely -- and plunged headfirst into cancer research and social activism on the side.

Cinematically, Armstrong also appeared in occasional features, usually cast in cameos as himself, including Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) and You, Me and Dupree (2006). In 2005, he hosted a special episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

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