Alexi Grewal
Encyclopedia
Alexi Singh Grewal (born September 8, 1960 in Aspen, Colorado
) is a Sikh-American Olympic gold medalist and former professional road racing cyclist. At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, Grewal
became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling. His winning bicycle is now at the Smithsonian Institution
's National Museum of American History. He has two brothers, Rishi and Ranjeet, that were also top American cyclists, especially in mountain bike racing.
The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame gave the following description of his Los Angeles gold medal ride: "With an estimated crowd of 300,000 lining the 190.2-kilometer route, Grewal edged Canadian Steve Bauer to claim the gold medal in the men's road race, breaking away from the field with 20 kilometers remaining and opening up a 24-second lead after 11 of 12 laps and then being caught by Bauer with 10 kilometers left, setting up a dramatic final-lap showdown. This scene, replayed many times since, is one of the most emotional Olympic victories of the Modern Games."
After winning Olympic gold, Grewal turned professional and signed with the Panasonic team and later with the 7-Eleven Cycling Team
. According to teammate Bob Roll
, Grewal was the captain of the 1986 7-Eleven team through the spring. Sometime later in 1986, he was dropped by the team after spitting on a CBS camera man who got too close. He raced for the U.S.-based Coors Light pro team from 1989-1993. He became well-known in the cycling community as an extraordinarily talented, but emotionally volatile rider.
After retiring from professional cycling Grewal moved to Colorado with his family. Grewal began making hand-hewn and crafted furniture and architectural features out of native hardwoods after his cycling days were over. He lost part of his fingers in an accident involving a saw. A bicycle frame manufacturer in Denver, Colorado, the Clark-Kent company, made a special road racing frame, the "AX-1", to Grewal's specifications. This steel frame featured an unusual bent seat tube with unorthodox frame angles.
In 2004, Grewal was elected to the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
.
On April 3, 2008, VeloNews published an essay by Grewal on his personal use (and the overall prevalence) of doping in cycling during his career, both in his amateur and professional days.
On September 25, 2010, VeloNews announced that Grewal would be making a comeback at age 50, targeting the Quiznos Pro Challenge
in Colorado in 2011.
1982
1984
1990
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
) is a Sikh-American Olympic gold medalist and former professional road racing cyclist. At the 1984 Summer Olympics
Cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The cycling competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles consisted of three road cycling events and five track cycling events. For the first time, women's cycling events were included in the Olympic program, with a single event, the individual road race...
in Los Angeles, Grewal
Grewal
Grewal/ Garewal is a surname of Jats found in Haryana, Punjab and Pakistan. They are regarded as prominent and respected clan that has greatly influenced South Asia, especially during the British Raj. Notable people include Kartar Singh Sarabha....
became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling. His winning bicycle is now at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of American History. He has two brothers, Rishi and Ranjeet, that were also top American cyclists, especially in mountain bike racing.
The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame gave the following description of his Los Angeles gold medal ride: "With an estimated crowd of 300,000 lining the 190.2-kilometer route, Grewal edged Canadian Steve Bauer to claim the gold medal in the men's road race, breaking away from the field with 20 kilometers remaining and opening up a 24-second lead after 11 of 12 laps and then being caught by Bauer with 10 kilometers left, setting up a dramatic final-lap showdown. This scene, replayed many times since, is one of the most emotional Olympic victories of the Modern Games."
After winning Olympic gold, Grewal turned professional and signed with the Panasonic team and later with the 7-Eleven Cycling Team
7-Eleven Cycling Team
The 7-Eleven Cycling Team, later the Motorola Cycling Team, was a professional cycling team founded in the U.S. in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist...
. According to teammate Bob Roll
Bob Roll
Bob Roll is a former American professional cyclist, author, and television sports commentator. He was a member of the 7-Eleven Cycling Team until 1990 and competed for the Motorola Cycling Team in 1991. In 1992 Roll moved to Greg LeMond’s Z team and added mountain biking to his racing...
, Grewal was the captain of the 1986 7-Eleven team through the spring. Sometime later in 1986, he was dropped by the team after spitting on a CBS camera man who got too close. He raced for the U.S.-based Coors Light pro team from 1989-1993. He became well-known in the cycling community as an extraordinarily talented, but emotionally volatile rider.
After retiring from professional cycling Grewal moved to Colorado with his family. Grewal began making hand-hewn and crafted furniture and architectural features out of native hardwoods after his cycling days were over. He lost part of his fingers in an accident involving a saw. A bicycle frame manufacturer in Denver, Colorado, the Clark-Kent company, made a special road racing frame, the "AX-1", to Grewal's specifications. This steel frame featured an unusual bent seat tube with unorthodox frame angles.
In 2004, Grewal was elected to the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
The United States Bicycling Hall of Fame, located in Davis, California, is a private organization formed to preserve and promote the sport of cycling.-Location:...
.
On April 3, 2008, VeloNews published an essay by Grewal on his personal use (and the overall prevalence) of doping in cycling during his career, both in his amateur and professional days.
On September 25, 2010, VeloNews announced that Grewal would be making a comeback at age 50, targeting the Quiznos Pro Challenge
Quiznos Pro Challenge
USA Pro Cycling Challenge was announced on August 4, 2010 by Colorado governor Bill Ritter and Lance Armstrong under the original name of Quiznos Pro Challenge. USAPCC is a seven-day pro road bicycle racing stage race taking place in Colorado between August 22–28, 2011. It revives the Coors Classic...
in Colorado in 2011.
Major accomplishments
1981- 1st–Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill ClimbMt. Evans Hill ClimbThe Mt. Evans Hill climb is a bicycle race that takes place on Mount Evans, Colorado. It was run for the first time in 1962. The race has been held 41 times with only three years canceled. The race was renamed in 1981 in honor of five-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at the age of...
(1:57:36)
1982
- 1st–Cascade Cycling ClassicCascade Cycling ClassicThe Cascade Cycling Classic is the longest consecutively run elite road bicycle racing stage race in the United States . It takes place in the Central Oregon region and is based in Bend, Oregon. It is a regular fixture for most of North America's top cyclists and teams. In recent years the race has...
1984
- Gold medalist–Summer Olympics, Men's Individual Road Race
- 1st–Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill ClimbMt. Evans Hill ClimbThe Mt. Evans Hill climb is a bicycle race that takes place on Mount Evans, Colorado. It was run for the first time in 1962. The race has been held 41 times with only three years canceled. The race was renamed in 1981 in honor of five-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at the age of...
(1:47:51)
1990
- 1st–Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill ClimbMt. Evans Hill ClimbThe Mt. Evans Hill climb is a bicycle race that takes place on Mount Evans, Colorado. It was run for the first time in 1962. The race has been held 41 times with only three years canceled. The race was renamed in 1981 in honor of five-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at the age of...
(1:46:29 - former record)