Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong was awarded France's Sports Academy Trophy on Tuesday in a ceremony at the foreign ministry in Paris.
Armstrong was presented with the Trophee de L'Academie des Sports for his sporting exploits in 2004, when he won a record sixth straight Tour, one more than five-time winners Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Jacques Anquetil.
Armstrong joins other sporting greats like Formula One champion Michael Schumacher and Brazilian national team hero Ronaldo, who previously won the award given to the male or female athlete with the best individual achievement over the previous year.
"I have to say it is an honor to be here," Armstrong said. "I don't normally get too choked up about things like this normally but this is special. Winning six Tours is something beyond my comprehension."
Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, who handed Armstrong the award, said sport has an important role to play in society.
"Sport allows people to get closer," Barnier said. "Sometimes between people who never talk to each other or at war with each other. Sport is a necessary tool."
In July, Armstrong will attempt to win a seventh straight Tour with his new Discovery Channel team. However, his preparations for that bid got off to a shaky start in last week's Paris-Nice race.
During the Paris-Nice race, Armstrong angered some in the US when he spoke glowingly of Paris' bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games -- prompting an outcry in New York, where some newspapers questioned his patriotism.
"It's a difficult position to be put in. As as American, my heart has to be with New York City, and I have to support the bid," he said.
The Sports Academy is comprised of a 50-member panel, including Barnier, French ski champion Jean-Claude Killy and Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour. Other awards were also presented Tuesday. Arsenal soccer coach Arsene Wenger won the Sports Trainer of the Year award, and Olympic gold-mdeal swimmer Laure Manaudou won the Olympic Grand Prix trophy.
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