Lance Mackey, Dog Musher & Dog Sled Racer, Dies at 52

Lance Mackey was an American dog musher and dog sled racer from Fairbanks, Alaska. Mackey was a four-time winner of both the 1,000-mile (1,600 km) Yukon Quest and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

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American dog musher and dog sled racer Lance Mackey passed away at 52

At the age of 52, Lance Mackey passed away. The father of Mackey shared on Facebook that his son had passed away from cancer. When Mackey received a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2001, she overcame it with the help of surgery and treatment for cancer.

But in August 2021, he later revealed that he had cancer once more. According to Iditarod authorities, Lance represented the race’s spirit, the endurance of an Alaskan musher, showed the pinnacle of resiliency and was adored by his supporters. Mackey has won the Iditarod four years in a row from 2007 to 2010.

His father, Dick Mackey, won the famous race in 1978, and his brother, Rick Mackey, won it in 1983, so he reportedly grew up with the race instilled in him. In a post to Instagram that featured a photo collage of the musher, Iditarod officials also paid tribute to Mackey. Lance Mackey, a four-time Iditarod champion, passed away, and Iditarod Nation lamented his passing.

In the late hours of September 7, 2022, Lance passed away from cancer after a 20-year battle. The only musher to have triumphed in both the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod in the same calendar year is Mackey.

Lance Mackey Age, Family, Early Life

Lance Mackey was born on June 2, 1970 (52 years old) in Anchorage, Alaska, the U.S. He holds an American nationality and belongs to the white ethnic group. His Zodiac sign is Gemini.

Lance Mackey was born into a family of sled dog mushers. His father, Dick Mackey, was one of the founders of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and won the event by a one-second margin over Rick Swenson in 1978. Lance’s half-brother Rick Mackey also won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1983. All three of them won the event on their sixth attempt while wearing bib number 13. Mackey’s parents split at an early age.

lance mackey family
source: INSTAGRAM

As a teenager, Lance reports getting arrested many times for various offenses. After living with her for some time, his mother eventually sent Lance to live with his father at the Coldfoot Truckstop. From there, Lance shifted into life as a fisherman until eventually returning to his destiny as a dog sled musher.

Lance Mackey Wife, What about his Children?

Lance Mackey has been married three times and divorced twice. On October 4, 2020, Mackey’s partner, Jenne Smith, tragically perished in an ATV accident.

lance mackey wife
source: INSTAGRAM

Mackey and Smith had parented two children, Atigun and Lozen, who were both under the age of five at the time of the horrific tragedy.

Lance Mackey Career, What was his profession?

Lance Mackey’s career as a sled dog musher began with his maiden appearance in the 2001 Iditarod–placing 36th out of the 57 who finished the event and won a mere $1046.00. By 2007, Mackey had quickly progressed up the ranks to become the first person to win both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year.

Mackey continued to set high standards: in 2008, he won the Tustumena 200, followed by his fourth consecutive Yukon Quest win and his second Iditarod win. While he elected not to compete in the Yukon Quest the next year, Lance captured his third consecutive Iditarod in 2009.

 In 2010, Mackey resumed the fray, finishing second in the Yukon Quest and also securing his 4th straight Iditarod win before dropping out of the top ten in the 2011 race, much to the dismay of several press reporters. After his 2011 success, Mackey was unable to secure a position in the top 10 Iditarod finishers despite five different efforts. On May 7, 2020, the Iditarod announced that owing to a failed drug test, Lance Mackey’s 21st place finish during the 2020 Iditarod will be invalidated.

Mackey’s urine sample obtained in White Mountain, a regular operating practice for the first thirty mushers arriving at the checkpoint, tested positive for methamphetamine. After this loss, Mackey did not participate in the 2021 Iditarod.

How much is Lance Mackey Net Worth?

It is impossible to estimate Lance Mackey’s net worth at the time of writing because no information about his earnings has been made public.

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Which school and college did he go to?

The high school he went to or the university Lance Mackey graduated from are all under review. Thus, we can assume that he completed his education in his hometown.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

Lance Mackey is active on Instagram and Twitter. He has 3,716+ followers on Instagram and 2,987+ followers on Twitter.

Physical Appearance of Lance Mackey’s Height, Weight

HeightNot Available
Hair ColorBlack and White
Eye colorBrown
WeightNot Available
Body typeFit
Sexual orientationStraight

Interesting facts about Lance Mackey’s should be knows

NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
Zodiac signGemini
Relationship StatusMarried

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