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{{Short description|American cyclist (born 1960)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Alexi Grewal
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Alexi Grewal
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|9|8}}
| birth_place = [[Aspen, Colorado]], United States
| currentteam = Retired
| discipline = Road
| role = Rider
| ridertype =
| proyears1 = 1985
| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|Panasonic|1985}}
| proyears2 = 1986
| proteam2 = [[7-Eleven (cycling team)|7-Eleven]]
| proyears3 = 1987
| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|RMO|1987}}
| proyears4 = 1988
| proteam4 = Crest
| proyears5 = 1989–1993
| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|Coors|1989}}
| majorwins =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[road bicycle racing|road cycling]] }}
{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|United States}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalGold | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]]| [[Cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|Individual road race]]}}
}}

'''Alexi Singh Grewal''' (born September 8, 1960) is an American Olympic gold medalist and former professional [[road racing cyclist]]. At the [[Cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]] in Los Angeles, Grewal became the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in road cycling.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/alexi-grewal-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418045242/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/alexi-grewal-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |title=Alexi Grewal Olympic Results |accessdate=May 25, 2015 |work=Sports Reference}}</ref> He has two brothers, Rishi and Ranjeet, who were also top American cyclists, especially in mountain bike racing.<ref>Emily V. Driscoll. [http://www.littleindia.com/news/152/ARTICLE/3816/2008-09-15.html "Pedaling Glory", ''Little India''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201184724/http://www.littleindia.com/news/152/ARTICLE/3816/2008-09-15.html |date=2010-02-01 }} (Sep. 15, 2008). Retrieved 5-22-2010</ref>

==Biography==
The United States 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."<ref>[http://www.usbhof.com/2004-inductees/ U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame 2004 Inductees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519165801/http://www.usbhof.com/2004-inductees/ |date=2010-05-19 }}. Accessed 5.22.2010</ref>

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.<ref name="roll2003">{{Cite book|last=Roll|first=Bob|title=Bobke II|date=2003|publisher=VeloPress|isbn=978-1-931382-28-1|location=Boulder, Colo.|oclc=53097074}}</ref> Sometime later in 1986, he was dropped by the team after spitting on a CBS camera man who got too close.<ref name="nytimes1986">{{Cite news|date=1986-08-09|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; 7-Eleven Drops Grewal|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/09/sports/sports-people-7-eleven-drops-grewal.html|access-date=2020-06-04|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203110341/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/09/sports/sports-people-7-eleven-drops-grewal.html|archive-date=2018-02-03}}</ref> He raced for the United States–based Coors Light pro team from 1989 to 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.<ref name="hansen2004">{{Cite journal|date=2004-02-16|last=Hansen|first=Matt|title=Alexi Grewal Pedal Exclusive: From Cyclist to Addict, Philosopher and Back|url=https://pedalmag.com/alexi-grewal-pedal-exclusive/|access-date=2020-06-04|journal=Pedal Magazine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107074259/http://pedalmag.com/index.php?module=Section&action=viewdetail&item_id=1995|archive-date=2006-11-07}}</ref> 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<ref name="grewal2008">{{Cite news|last=Grewal|first=Alexi|date=2008-04-03|title=An essay by 1984 Olympic gold medalist Alexi Grewal|url=https://www.velonews.com/news/an-essay-by-1984-olympic-gold-medalist-alexi-grewal/|access-date=2020-06-04|work=VeloNews}}</ref> during his career, both in his amateur and professional days.

In 2009, and again 2013, Alexi unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Loveland, Colorado.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_24037899/alexi-grewal-3-way-race-loveland-mayor|title=Alexi Grewal in 3-way race for Loveland mayor|access-date=2018-09-26}}</ref>

On September 25, 2010, ''VeloNews'' announced that Grewal would be making a comeback at age 50,<ref name="wilcockson2010">{{Cite news|last=Wilcockson|first=John|date=2010-09-24|title=Inside Cycling with John Wilcockson: Alexi Grewal is deadly serious about comeback|url=https://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/news/inside-cycling-with-john-wilcockson-alexi-grewal-is-deadly-serious-about-comeback_142905|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716043630/http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/news/inside-cycling-with-john-wilcockson-alexi-grewal-is-deadly-serious-about-comeback_142905|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2012|access-date=2010-09-25|work=VeloNews}}</ref> targeting the [[Quiznos Pro Challenge]] in Colorado in 2011. However, he was not on the start list and did not complete this race.<ref name="wilcockson2014">{{Cite news|first=John|last=Wilcockson|date=2014-08-06|title=Grewal's big comeback adventure is over {{!}} VeloNews.com|url=http://www.velonews.com/2011/12/news/grewal%E2%80%99s-big-comeback-adventure-is-over_199002|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729125611/http://www.velonews.com/2011/12/news/grewal%E2%80%99s-big-comeback-adventure-is-over_199002|access-date=2020-06-04|work=VeloNews}}</ref> He instead turned his focus to non-professional gravel and ''gran fondo'' rides, such as the Snowmass-Aspen Gran Fondo Italia, finishing fourth out of 125 riders in one race.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.velonews.com/2014/08/news/alexi-grewal-ride-gran-fondo-italia-aspen-snowmass_339895|title=Alexi Grewal to ride Gran Fondo Italia Aspen-Snowmass – VeloNews.com|date=2014-08-06|access-date=2018-09-26|archive-date=2018-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205655/https://www.velonews.com/2014/08/news/alexi-grewal-ride-gran-fondo-italia-aspen-snowmass_339895|work=VeloNews}}</ref>

==Major results==
{{palmares start}}
;1981
: 1st [[Mt. Evans Hill Climb]] (1:57:36)
: 2nd Overall [[Vuelta Ciclista de Chile]]
;1982
: 1st Overall [[Cascade Cycling Classic]]
: 2nd Overall [[Vuelta Ciclista de Chile]]
::1st Stages 7 & 8
;1983
: 1st Stage 8a [[Tour de l'Avenir]]
: 1st Stage 6a [[GP Tell]]
: 1st Stage 8 [[Coors Classic]]
: 1st Stage 10 [[Red Zinger Bicycle Classic|Red Zinger Classic]]
;1984
: 1st [[File:Gold medal.svg|15px]] [[Cycling at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race|Road race]], [[1984 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]
: 1st [[Mt. Evans Hill Climb]] (1:47:51)
: 1st Stage 8 Tour of Texas
;1985
: 5th Overall [[Étoile de Bessèges]]
;1986
: 3rd Overall [[Tour de l'Avenir]]
::1st Stage 12
;1987
: 1st Overall Vulcan Tour
::1st Prologue
;1988
: 1st Overall [[Redlands Bicycle Classic]]
::1st Stages 3 & 4 ([[team time trial|TTT]])
: 1st Overall Mammoth Classic
::1st Stage 2
;1989
: 3rd [[United States National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Road Championships
;1990
: 1st [[Mt. Evans Hill Climb]] (1:46:29 – former record)
: 1st Overall Casper Classic
::1st Stage 2
: 1st Stage 4 [[Cascade Classic]]
;1991
: 4th Overall [[Tour DuPont]]
;1992
: 1st Overall Tour de Bisbee
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Stage 10 [[Tour DuPont]]
;1993
: 1st [[Nevada City Classic]]
: 1st Stage 5 Casper Classic
{{palmares end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.usbhof.com/2004-inductees/ |title=U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame: Class of 2004 |access-date=2010-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519165801/http://www.usbhof.com/2004-inductees/ |archive-date=2010-05-19 |url-status=dead }}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Road Cycling Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grewal, Alexi}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male cyclists]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in cycling]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Aspen, Colorado]]
[[Category:American people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:American Sikhs]]
[[Category:American people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Doping cases in cycling]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in cycling]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Colorado]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Punjabi Sikhs]]

Alexi Grewal - Revision history

Wikimelo at 07:11, 27 September 2025