Daniel de Visé

Maybe you’ve heard of Greg LeMond. Maybe you haven’t. 

And if his name doesn’t ring familiar, maybe it should.  

LeMond, 64, was the first American cyclist to win the Tour de France, one of the two or three most-watched sporting events in the world. And with the doping-era disqualifications of Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis, LeMond is the only American who has won the Tour. 

On July 9, LeMond visited the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, on par with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Congress approved the medal in 2020, but the pandemic forced a delay in awarding it.  

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican, presented the medal to LeMond "on behalf of a grateful nation" in a morning ceremony in Statuary Hall. A standing ovation followed.

Since 1776, Congress has awarded only a few Gold Medals to athletes. Honorees include boxer Joe Louis, tennis giant Billie Jean King, Olympian Jesse Owens and golfer Jack Nicklaus. 



Read on:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/07/09/greg-lemond-congress-medal-tour-de-france-cycling/84490160007/