born Oct. 5, 1965, Montreal, Que., Can.
Canadian ice-hockey player.
In 1984 he made his professional debut as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and quickly became one of the sport's leading offensive threats, earning the nickname "Super Mario." He led his team to two Stanley Cup victories (199192). In 1992 Lemieux was found to have Hodgkin disease, but after surgery and radiation he returned to lead his team on a 17-game winning streak, an NHL record. He retired after the 199596 season with 613 goals and 881 assists. In 1999 he headed a group of investors that purchased the Penguins. He returned as a player in 2001, becoming the first owner-player in the history of modern sports. At the 2002 Winter Olympics he won a gold medal as a member of the Canadian men's hockey team.