SALT LAKE CITY- Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, 36, died on Wednesday Oct. 3 while attempting the world bicycle land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Salt Lake City Utah.
Lances record attempt was in behalf of his famed Livestrong campaign and had drawn a large crowd on Wednesday. Hundreds of Lance’s supporters and fans had poured onto the salt flats to witness his great feat. At approximately 10:04 a.m. Lance mounted his specially designed bicycle and began his five mile race for speed. Being a self proclaimed speed addict, Lance, as always, was up to the challenge. Upon his return trip of the five mile race Lance collapsed off of his bicycle and somewhere between there on the salty ground and the hospital, passed on. The cause of Lance’s death is still under investigation.
Lance lived a life full of such triumph and strength, that words cannot give him full justice. His life began in the town of Plano Texas. Born on Sept. 18, 1971, Lance was brought up by his mother Linda Armstrong, who was always supportive of his competitive nature. Lance showed success in bicycle racing at an early age. According to his official website (lancearmstrong.com), he turned professional at the mere age of 16, and from there, rode into the history books. Winning an unprecedented seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. These along with many other victories and honors put suspicions in the minds of critics, of Lance possibly using drug enhancements to heighten his performance. Though he was tested and re-tested more than any other athlete in the world, he never failed a test or was ever legitimately suspected of any illegal drug use.
In the eyes of many Lances bicycle achievements are overshadowed, and in some ways greatly magnified by his greatest achievement, overcoming cancer. On October 2, 1996, Lance found out that his body had been attacked by cancer, spreading from its testicular source through his lungs and brain. Though it was a devastating blow to Lance and his family, Lance showed his never give up attitude from the get go. According to his official website, Lance chose a far more aggressive form of cancer treatment rather than a milder, less painful form, simply because he had a better chance of keeping his lung capacity. Lance fully expected to return to bicycle racing, and knew his lungs would be important. In speaking of his attitude toward beating cancer lance put it best by saying, “We have two options medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell”.
Yes, Lance was a cancer survivor, but more than that he showed that a person can, not only survive cancer, but can truly live and succeed in life thereafter.
Lance is survived by his ex wife Kristin and three children, Luke, Isabel, and Grace. Funeral services will be held in Lance’s home town of Austin Texas On Wednesday, Oct. 10.
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3 comments:
It was a good article, you did good for Lance. I think some of the details were a bit off though and i may have just read the article wrong, but you said it was a 5 mile race when I think we said it was 10 mile race. But I didn't see any real problems in your article. Good job.
Nice obituary. Kind of lengthy. Lots of info. A few minor errors as forgetting apostphroes.
I like how you kept it to the point didnt focus too much on how he died
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