Feb
8
Thoughts on Lance Armstrong, from Fabrice Rouah
February 8, 2013 |
I recently saw this article: "Armstrong Sued Over Prize Money" . Sure to be the first of many lawsuits against him.
It's worth remembering that doping constitutes only a tiny part of an athlete's activities. Most of their time is spent training, in the gym, exercising, dieting, etc. You cannot transform an out-of-shape and overweight cycling wannabe (me!) overnight into a Tour winner simply by giving him dope.
We all know Armstrong's story but it's worth repeating. Testicular cancer that spread to his brain and to 12 golf ball-sized tumors in his lungs; given less than 50% chance of survival; refused a cancer treatment that would damage his lungs; insisted to his doctors that he would survive return to competitive cycling when they were telling him that he would be confined to a wheelchair.
His remarkable recovery wasn't due to doping, but to his determination and will.
Comments
4 Comments so far
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Well said. The media creates the impression that anyone could have won the TDF multiple times if they were only willing to stoop to doping. Really, when measured against what he went through on and off the bike requiring real character, the doping, and yes, even the lying is but a flyspeck.
I agree. So far as I am concerned it has been a witch hunt. Are we supposed to believe that anyone in the top 10, or 20, etc was not “doping”? He won by the standard of his era. If they are better at catching “dopers” today, then hold athletes today to that standard (though they will likely have more sophisticated ways of getting an edge still) and let the historical record stand.
For those that came second behind Lance and did so honestly they will never get back the win and all that comes with it. Mentally it must be awful.
He has ruined many lives and I am sickened that people still talk about him.
Why not throw him in the slammer for ten years or so. He has done much worse than say Conrad Black!
Ref: Anonymous on February 13, 2013 11:06 pm
Who were those that came in second, and were clean.