WASHINGTON — Greg LeMond, who is one of the most decorated cyclists in American history as a three-time Tour de France winner, was honored Wednesday with the Congressional Gold Medal.
LeMond, 64, received the medal during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol with his wife, Kathy, and children in attendance. It was announced he’d receive the medal in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the ceremony for the California native.
“It is the highest honor that we can bestow in this institution,” Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “It honors citizens whose contributions have shaped our country, enriched our history and lifted the spirits of the American people. And much like the American dream itself, this honor is not reserved for any one person and profession, it can be earned and won by anyone who’s deserving.”
LeMond, a two-time world champion in road racing, was shot on a hunting trip in 1987 at the peak of his career, shortly after becoming the first American man to win the Tour de France, cycling’s most prestigious race and one of its three Grand Tours, along with the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. He recovered to win two more editions of the Tour de France: by the race’s narrowest margin (eight seconds) in 1989 and again in 1990.
“The honor is more than I ever expected, and I accept it with deep gratitude and also with a profound sense of humility,” LeMond said. “Today isn’t just about reflecting on my own journey. It’s about honoring the people, places and the moments that shaped it.”