[1] Van Lierde's international career started in 1990 when he came fourth in the World Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships.

Luc Van Lierde became the first European ever to win the Ironman World Championship, beating the existing record by three minutes.

Absent from the Ironman 1998, after undergoing an operation, he nevertheless won the Flemish Sports Personality of the Year trophy.

One year later he managed to coach Frederik Van Lierde to a third place at the 2012 Ironman World Championship.

Van Lierde has successfully coached several other professional athletes, including Marino Vanhoenacker, Iván Raña, Will Clarke, Michelle Vesterby, and Saleta Castro.