Greg LeMond is now the winner of the Congressional Gold Medal.
President Donald Trump signed the bill on Friday, officially awarding Congressional gold medals to American cyclist and former Reno resident Lemon.
LeMond is the first cyclist to receive the honor and the 10th individual athlete.
LeMond was born in California but grew up near Reno, where he attended Worcester High School.
At the age of 18, he became the youngest cyclist in the history of the sport to be selected for the U.S. Men's Olympic Team. He participated in the Tour de France for the first time in 1984 and won third place.
More: Cyclist Greg LeMond is one step closer to the Congressional gold medal
In the 1986 Tour de France, he defeated the field in more than 3 minutes and became the first American to win the most prestigious race in cycling.
In 1987, while recovering from a broken wrist and clavicle, LeMond was shot and killed in a turkey hunting accident, leaving him in the intensive care unit and requiring more than 40 shotgun pellets to be taken from his abdomen.
After multiple operations, LeMond made a comeback and won the Tour de France in 1989 with an advantage of 8 seconds, which is the closest result in the history of the Tour de France. He won for the third time in 1990.
LeMond's sister Karen Melarkey still lives in Reno, and in addition to his cycling achievements, she is also proud of her brother's fight against bullies.
"A lot of people know about Greg's outstanding athletic achievements, and there are many of them, but what I am most proud of is that my brother stood up for the right, fair and honest things," she said. "Because he is an outspoken anti-doping cyclist, he has been avoided by many people. He has come forward during the difficult times in life. He has overcome many obstacles on and off the road. I can't think of a comparison. The person who deserves this award is not as good as my brother."
The bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Representative Mike Thompson of California, and was passed in the U.S. Senate last month.
"Throughout his career, Greg has repeatedly embodied the principles of healthy competition, honesty and selflessness, putting the success of the team above himself. After retiring, he devoted his life to charity work for children, veterans, and medicine. Research and other undertakings provide services and support," Thompson said at a press conference.
American cyclists Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis (Lance Armstrong) and Floyd Landis (Floyd Landis) were disqualified after winning the Tour de France. Mond became the only official tournament champion in the United States.
Armstrong was the best finisher of the seven consecutive Tour de France from 1999 to 2005. He was deprived of the championship title after being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in 2012. Landis’ victory in the 2006 Tour de France was denied in 2007.
LeMond is developing a carbon fiber bicycle production line and production plant in the Knoxville area of Tennessee.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States. It recognizes those who "have made achievements that have an impact on American history and culture. These achievements are likely to be considered major achievements in the field of winners a long time later. Achievement."
Medals can only be awarded through bills of Congress, and bills must be supported by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate before they can be considered for voting.
59-year-old LeMond is the 10th individual athlete to win this prestigious medal. Others include Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clement, Jesse Owens, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Jim Krajewski reports on high school and youth sports for Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com here.