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The birth of a natural athlete

For many years cycling has been a very competitive sport where athletes worldwide compete. Cycling is one sport that people hardly recognize, although it’s one of the most extraordinary events ever played in sports history. Even though cycling is not the easiest sport in the world, many athletes make it look like it is. Professional cyclists are becoming huge role models for young athletes. The training and exercise early in his career, Lance Armstrong came out winning the 7 Tour De France races, coming back from fighting cancer and inspiring everyone to fight it.
Armstrongs lived a normal childhood which got him were he is today. Armstrong was born in Plano, Texas September 18, 1971 where he was raised by his mother, Linda, in the suburbs near Dallas. At the age of ten years old Armstrong was an outstanding triathalete that spent hours riding his bike underwater and running. In his senior year in high school the U.S. Olympic team development offered him to come with them to train in Colorado Springs. He took the offer and left high school but temporarily took private classes where he could receive his diploma in the year 1989. In the same year Armstrong entered the junior world championship in Moscow. The Helsinki championship race was his major triumph where he later became a professional in the world of cycling. Armstrong was known for becoming a fearsome underdog day racer. He also became a number one cyclist in 1996.

Armstrongs rise of fame and what he did to get there. During his years of professional cycling Armstrong won many races, in the early 90’s where he was one of the most outstanding cyclists, known for the performance that he put in for coming in the middle of the pack of Tour DuPont which was a 12 stage race that stretched over 1,085 miles, and later began racing more races in Italy, the Settimana Bergamsca in Spain, and the Barcelona road race. Even though he finished last in most of those races he rebounded back by coming back to winning 2nd in the world cup race in Switzerland Zurich. He later on entered the tour de france and started off well winning it becoming 8th then finished 62nd . After that he then pulled out of the race. After the race he announced “I think I bit off more than I could chew I thought the marathon would be easier”. (“Sports, beltway”.) later on in Armstrongs career he felt that he wasn’t doing any good in the races he performed in. After running a few tests, the doctors found out that he had testicular cancer and he only had a 40% recovery rate. Armstrong went into chemotherapy where it would help him at least fight it. Armstrong managed to overcome the prostrate cancer slowly but steadily got healthier. After cancer Armstrong wanted to enter the world of racing but the teams were not too sure they should take the risk. Then his sponcered team gave him a break to get back in better shape which was an outstanding decision. The cancer made Armstrong lose some upper body weight which he was more competitive in the mountains and all the tours. This made it suspicious about accusations of drug use. Most of the accusations came from his trainer, M. Ferrari, even though Armstrong has never failed a single drug test. Ferrari was dropped from being a trainer when he was accused of trying to convince his client’s to use performance enhancing drugs. In the year 1991-2004 Armstrong was one of the legendary names to come from winning 6 tour de france races beating legends like Miguel indurain,jaques anquetil and Eddy merckx. In 2002 Armstrong was chosen by Sports Illustrated to be the sportsman of the year. Winning that many races it has been known to be one of the best achievements ever in cycling. After winning the last Tour De France in 2005 Armstrong did announce that he would retire.

The influences of armstrong and how he supported cancer patientes. However cycling has been changed in a different point of view of riders and new ones to come from all the countries. It has been much more competitive and one of the most prestigious races all around the world. Other than cycling armstrong has created what is “The Lance Armstrong Foundation” the “Live Strong” wrist bands that helps raise money for cancer . armstrong is loyal and trustworhty for helping cancer patients around the country. He is also willing enough to get the best out of life like he says “I decided I was going to win”(“Armstrong, Biography”.)

Fighting cancer and becoming one of the legandary names put down in the sports history. Armstrong is one of the names eveyone will know in the future to help cancer patients to have a fighting chance. Cycling is now seen in a different point of veiw where everyone will know the man that has encouraged everyone.