Lance Armstrong Biography

Born as Lance Edward Gunderson to Linda Walling and Eddie Charles Gunderson, named after Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver

His father leaves his mother when Lance is two years old, his mother marries Terry Keith Armstrong, who adopts Lance in 1974

Lance Armstrong meets former elite cyclist Chris Carmichael and works with him as his coach through all of his years at the Tour De France competitions

United States National Sprint Triathlon Champion

Becomes US National Amateur Champion

Signs with a professional cycling team, Motorola, and finishes last in his first professional race, the Classico San Sebastian

Finishes 14th in the individual road race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Future teammate, Fabio Casartelli, wins the event

Wins ten titles including the US Pro Championship, and stage 8 in the Tour de France, and at 22 is the youngest road racing world champion ever

Becomes the first American to win the Classico San Sebastian

Named the 1995 Velo News American Male Cyclist of the Year

Wins the 18th stage of the Tour de France after his teammate and friend Fabio Casartelli is killed in a descent during the 15th stage of that same Tour

Becomes the first American to win the Belgian classic Fleche Wallone

Diagnosed as having stage three (advanced) testicular cancer (embryonal carcinoma), the cancer had spread to his brain, lungs and abdomen

Ranked no 1 in World Cycling

Ranked the number one cyclist in the world

Has an orchiectomy to remove the diseased testicle, asked in an interview what Armstrongs chances are, Dr. Reeves, the surgeon, says "Almost none. We told Lance initially 20 to 50% chance, mainly to give him hope. But with the kind of cancer he had, with the x-rays, the blood tests, almost no hope."

Armstrongs last chemotherapy treatment

Declared cancer-free

Armstrongs comeback is signalled by finishing 4th in the Vuelta a Espana

Named the American Broadcasting Companys Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year

Winner of the Tour de France, 1st time

Publishes his memoirs, "Its Not About the Bike"

Publishes his memoirs, "Its Not About the Bike"

Worlds Most Outstanding Athlete Award, Jesse Owens International Trophy

Publishes his memoirs, "Its Not About the Bike"

Winner of the Tour de France, 2nd time

Winner of the Tour de France, 3rd time

Sports Illustrated magazine names him Sportsman of the Year

Winner of the Tour de France, 4th time

Publishes his memoirs, "Every Second Counts"

Publishes his memoirs, "Every Second Counts"

Publishes his memoirs, "Every Second Counts"

Reuters Sportsman of the Year

Winner of the Tour de France, 5th time

Winner of the Tour de France, 6th time

Retires from cycling

Vrijmans report "clears" Lance Armstrong because of improper handling and testing, the report says that tests on urine samples were conducted improperly and fell so short of scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible". Winner of the Tour de France, 7th time, a record

Vrijmans report "clears" Lance Armstrong because of improper handling and testing, the report says that tests on urine samples were conducted improperly and fell so short of scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible"

Helps found Athletes for Hope, a charitable organisation, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community

Armstrong announces his retirement from competitive cycling

Disqualified from from competitive cycling for life, for doping offenses by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)

Disqualified from from competitive cycling for life, for doping offenses by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)

USADA announces a lifetime ban from competition, applicable to all sports which follow the World Anti-Doping Agency code

USADA announces a lifetime ban from competition, applicable to all sports which follow the World Anti-Doping Agency code

Armstrong admits to doping in a television interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey