Greg LeMond Becomes First Cyclist Ever Honored with a Congressional Gold Medal

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Greg LeMond famously won the Tour de France in 1986, becoming the first American man to do so. Then, a nearly fatal hunting accident upon returning home resulted in LeMond losing 70 percent of his blood volume. 

For a while, it looked like his cycling career was over. 

By 1989, he recovered enough to race in the Tour, but he was not considered a favorite to win, and he was not on a particularly strong team. His goal was to finish in the top 20. 

Incredibly, on the final day of 21 days of racing, LeMond grabbed his second win by eight seconds. . . .

Representative Mike Thompson, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, sponsored the bill to award LeMond the medal (which takes the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate) and described LeMond as warm and humble.

Rep. Thompson said that when he first talked to LeMond about pursuing the Congressional honor, the first that would award a cyclist, LeMond suggested that Major Taylor might even be a better candidate for it. (And now such an honor is being pursued through Congress!)

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Greg LeMond Becomes First Cyclist Ever Honored with a Congressional Gold Medal