Associated Press
18 January 2000 – New York - Lance Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer and captured the Tour de France last year, won the 2000 Jesse Owens International Trophy Award.
The award is presented annually to the athlete who best personifies excellence in athletic performance and promotes sincere co-operation and understanding among people of all nations.
In balloting by an international panel, Armstrong received 90 votes, the International Amateur Athletic Association announced Tuesday.
Maurice Greene, who set the world 100 metres record and won three gold medals at the World Track and Field Championships in Seville last year, was second with 59 votes.
Third with 55 votes was Morocco's Hicham el Guerrouj, who set the world mile (1.61 kilometres) record in 1999. He was followed by Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe with 18 votes, and 200m/400m world record holder Michael Johnson with 17.
Armstrong was only the second American to win cycling's most prestigious race, joining 1991 Owens winner Greg LeMond, a three-time winner of the Tour de France.
Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. The cancer spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. He returned to cycling in 1998 and capped his comeback with his emotional victory last July.
Armstrong will be honoured at a dinner Feb. 10 in New York.
