Lance Armstrong
At twenty four, Lance Armstrong was already well on his way to
becoming a sporting legend. Then, in October 1996, he was diagnosed
with stage four testicular cancer - doctors gave him a forty% chance
of survival. On that day Armstrong's life changed forever and in
typical fashion he met the challenge head on, this was one fight he
was determined not to lose.
If scripted by Hollywood, the story would be dismissed as trite
melodrama: A deadly disease strikes a promising athlete. Despite
desperately thin odds, he manages not only to beat the affliction but
also to return to the sport and win its top prize. Unbelievable,
except it's true. But the story doesn't end on the finish line at the
Tour de France. His experience made him a part of a cancer community,
and motivated him to unleash the same passion and drive he does in
bike races to the fight against cancer. Since he made history in 1999,
he has won the tour 4 more times, and has become one of the most
recognizable and admired people of this era.
[IMAGE]Lance's sporting career began in Plano, Texas, where his mother
Linda supported his competitive urges from the beginning. He displayed
a gift early on when he won the Iron Kids Triathlon at 13 and became a
professional when he was only 16 years old. At the near-cost of his
high school diploma, he trained with the U.S. Olympic cycling
developmental team in Colorado Springs, Colorado, during his senior
year. That sealed his destiny and Lance embarked on a career as a bike
racer. His rise in the amateur ranks appeared effortless, and Lance
qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow in 1989. By
1991 he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion and soon after turned
professional.
[IMAGE]Once in the pro ranks, he quickly proved himself with a USPRO
Championship title, stage victories in the Tour de France, a World
Championship, multiple victories at the Tour du Pont, a No. 1 world