B
Brian Roth
Guest
Google can take up to 9 hours to post, so it's likely this will be old news, but here it is anyway.
From the Austin American Statesman:
By Suzanne Halliburton
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, February 22, 2003
Lance and Kristin Armstrong, one of the highest-profile couples in international sports, said Friday
that they have separated after 4 1/2 years of marriage.
Lance Armstrong, the Austin-based cyclist and four-time defending Tour de France champion, will
leave for Spain on Monday to prepare for the European cycling season. Kristin Armstrong and the
couple's three young children will remain in Austin.
The Armstrongs, both 31, provided a statement to the American-Statesman on Friday that they were
having unspecified marital difficulties.
"We are working through these sensitive issues in the same way we have met other challenges in our
life -- together with determination and dedication," the statement said. "We may experience a period
of time apart from each other as we reflect on our relationship and work to preserve and protect the
interests of our family and children."
The two separated in late January and have been living apart since. Lance Armstrong has been staying
at another house, a family retreat, that he owns southwest of Austin. The couple also owns a home in
Girona, Spain, Armstrong's European base for the six-month-long cycling season.
This summer, Armstrong could become only the second rider to win five straight Tour de France
races. For each of the four previous titles, Kristin Armstrong was by his side on the victory
stand in Paris.
Their story -- his overcoming testicular cancer, her efforts to have children, their fund-raising
for cancer survivors -- has been widely told and hailed as inspirational for thousands. The Lance
Armstrong Foundation raised about $2.7 million last year; both of the Armstrongs have helped to
raise money for the foundation, but neither is involved in itsdaily operations.
Last weekend, the foundation raised about $500,000 at its Live to Ride Gala in Austin. But Kristin
Armstrong was out of town and did not attend, the first public clue of their separation.
For six years, the sporting world has watched Lance Armstrong's recovery and rise to the top of
cycling, accompanied by his rise to the top of sports marketing. His autobiography was a best
seller, and he was last year's Sportsman of the Year, as chosen by Sports Illustrated. His
relationship with Kristin and their growing family has been a key part of the story.
The two became friends in January 1997, when Kristin was working for a local advertising firm and
met Lance through her volunteer work with the foundation. At the time, Lance was only one month
removed from his chemotherapy treatments for advanced testicular cancer and still two years away
from his first Tour title.
The two started dating in June 1997 and were engaged that October. They married in May 1998 in Santa
Barbara, Calif., near where Kristin and her family spent summer vacations when she was growing up.
The two soon began talking about starting a family. Because Lance's cancer treatments could have
made him sterile, he banked his sperm immediately after his diagnosis. Kristin began the in vitro
fertilization process in December 1998, chronicling her story in a pull-no-punches diary published
on Lance's official Web site.
The couple's first child, Luke, was born in October 1999, three months after Lance Armstrong's first
Tour de France victory. Twins Grace and Isabella -- also conceived through in vitro fertilization --
were born in November 2001.
Less than two months ago, the couple was featured in local advertising in support of the Fertile
Hope 5K race to raise awareness for the infertility problems of female cancer survivors. Kristin was
one of the main organizers of the event.
Kristin Armstrong also appeared with her husband in 1999-2000 in a commercial for
Bristol-Myers-Squibb, the pharmaceutical company that produced the chemotherapy drugs he credited
with saving his life.
In addition, Lance Armstrong has endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, Nike and several cycling
equipment companies, and recently signed a $12.5 million endorsement deal with Subaru. The first of
the six commercials featuring Armstrong will be aired in April.
Armstrong's new Coke commercial premiered during Sunday's Daytona 500. He also is set to appear in
regional commercials for Comcast.
Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's Austin-based agent, said that Armstrong's major sponsors have been
informed of the couple's separation.
"I spoke to Lance's sponsors prior to their (separation) announcement," Stapleton said Friday. "They
remain very supportive and are hoping for the best for the two of them and their children."
From the Austin American Statesman:
By Suzanne Halliburton
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, February 22, 2003
Lance and Kristin Armstrong, one of the highest-profile couples in international sports, said Friday
that they have separated after 4 1/2 years of marriage.
Lance Armstrong, the Austin-based cyclist and four-time defending Tour de France champion, will
leave for Spain on Monday to prepare for the European cycling season. Kristin Armstrong and the
couple's three young children will remain in Austin.
The Armstrongs, both 31, provided a statement to the American-Statesman on Friday that they were
having unspecified marital difficulties.
"We are working through these sensitive issues in the same way we have met other challenges in our
life -- together with determination and dedication," the statement said. "We may experience a period
of time apart from each other as we reflect on our relationship and work to preserve and protect the
interests of our family and children."
The two separated in late January and have been living apart since. Lance Armstrong has been staying
at another house, a family retreat, that he owns southwest of Austin. The couple also owns a home in
Girona, Spain, Armstrong's European base for the six-month-long cycling season.
This summer, Armstrong could become only the second rider to win five straight Tour de France
races. For each of the four previous titles, Kristin Armstrong was by his side on the victory
stand in Paris.
Their story -- his overcoming testicular cancer, her efforts to have children, their fund-raising
for cancer survivors -- has been widely told and hailed as inspirational for thousands. The Lance
Armstrong Foundation raised about $2.7 million last year; both of the Armstrongs have helped to
raise money for the foundation, but neither is involved in itsdaily operations.
Last weekend, the foundation raised about $500,000 at its Live to Ride Gala in Austin. But Kristin
Armstrong was out of town and did not attend, the first public clue of their separation.
For six years, the sporting world has watched Lance Armstrong's recovery and rise to the top of
cycling, accompanied by his rise to the top of sports marketing. His autobiography was a best
seller, and he was last year's Sportsman of the Year, as chosen by Sports Illustrated. His
relationship with Kristin and their growing family has been a key part of the story.
The two became friends in January 1997, when Kristin was working for a local advertising firm and
met Lance through her volunteer work with the foundation. At the time, Lance was only one month
removed from his chemotherapy treatments for advanced testicular cancer and still two years away
from his first Tour title.
The two started dating in June 1997 and were engaged that October. They married in May 1998 in Santa
Barbara, Calif., near where Kristin and her family spent summer vacations when she was growing up.
The two soon began talking about starting a family. Because Lance's cancer treatments could have
made him sterile, he banked his sperm immediately after his diagnosis. Kristin began the in vitro
fertilization process in December 1998, chronicling her story in a pull-no-punches diary published
on Lance's official Web site.
The couple's first child, Luke, was born in October 1999, three months after Lance Armstrong's first
Tour de France victory. Twins Grace and Isabella -- also conceived through in vitro fertilization --
were born in November 2001.
Less than two months ago, the couple was featured in local advertising in support of the Fertile
Hope 5K race to raise awareness for the infertility problems of female cancer survivors. Kristin was
one of the main organizers of the event.
Kristin Armstrong also appeared with her husband in 1999-2000 in a commercial for
Bristol-Myers-Squibb, the pharmaceutical company that produced the chemotherapy drugs he credited
with saving his life.
In addition, Lance Armstrong has endorsement deals with Coca-Cola, Nike and several cycling
equipment companies, and recently signed a $12.5 million endorsement deal with Subaru. The first of
the six commercials featuring Armstrong will be aired in April.
Armstrong's new Coke commercial premiered during Sunday's Daytona 500. He also is set to appear in
regional commercials for Comcast.
Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's Austin-based agent, said that Armstrong's major sponsors have been
informed of the couple's separation.
"I spoke to Lance's sponsors prior to their (separation) announcement," Stapleton said Friday. "They
remain very supportive and are hoping for the best for the two of them and their children."
