Lance, Kristin Armstrong Announce Separation

Austin-American Statesman ^ | 2/23/03 | Suzanne Halliburton

[HumanaeVitae]

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."

[HumanaeVitae]

Too bad...

[ewing]

This probably assures Lance of winning Tours 5 and 6 in a row.

One thing the other competitors don't need is a p*ssed off Lance with nothing to do but train (he already sleeps in an oxygen tent over the winter to simulate living in the French Alps)

[spectre]

So sorry to hear this.

sw

[Cicero]

"Too bad" was the first thing that came to my mind, too. This article says separated rather than planning a divorce. Let's hope they find a way to get past this.

[ewing]

I doubt this will have any effect.

There is a reason the other competitors nickname Lance 'Alien.'

[Terry Adams]

To anyone who says this will have no effect on him has never had a seperation. Yes, Lance does focus and is intense, but his heart is what has made him special and it must be badly bruised now if not broken.