Lance Armstrong is a legendary athlete. He is a professional road bike racer.
Before he was 20 years old, he had won two national championships in triathlons.
At the age of 25, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, followed by testicular (one) resection and craniotomy.
After orchiectomy and craniotomy, he returned to the field in a legend when others thought his career would be brought to an end.
From 1999 to 2005, Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times in a row. There are no ancients before, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to have anyone after that.
However, in 2012, all his grades after August 1998 were cancelled because he had used pro-functional drugs.
Today's article will share with you the legendary experience of legendary cyclist Armstrong.
On September 18, 1971, 17-year-old Linda Munniham gave birth to a child. It was named Lance Edward Gunderson.
When Lance was two years old, his parents divorced.
When Lance was three years old, his mother Linda married his stepfather, Terry Armstrong.
Lance's name was also changed from Lance Gunderson to Lance Armstrong, and more than 20 years later, he made the name legendary.
Athletic talent Sports genius
In the fifth grade, Lance Armstrong competed in the school's long-distance running competition and won the championship as he wished.
After that, he entered a local swimming club and learned to swim. Within a year, he finished 4th in the statewide 1500m freestyle.
As a 12-year-old, he exercised a lot, going for 6 miles a day and then riding 20 miles.
At the age of 13, Lance Armstrong signed up for the Triathlon and won the Junior State Championship.
In 1987, 15-year-old Lance Armstrong competed in the President's Cup Triathlon, competing with adults and finishing 32nd. He finished 5th in his second year.
Soon, Lance became a national rising star in the short-distance Triathlon.
Focus on cycling
Later, he discovered that his talent was still on the bicycle, and at the age of 17, he received a training invitation from the American Youth Cycling Team.
In 1991, Armstrong won the American Amateur Cycling Championship.
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Armstrong finished 14th.
After that, he became a professional cyclist.
In 1993, he was the winner of the 8th stage of the Tour de France. World Road Cycling Championships champion.
In 1995, he was the winner of the 18th stage of the Tour de France. San Sebastian Classics Champion.
In 1995 and 1996, he won the DuPont Championship, the most important bicycle race in the United States, for two consecutive years.
Diagnosis of testicular cancer
Just when the new star of cycling is on the rise and everyone thinks his future is unlimited;
On October 2, 1996, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and the virus worsened and had spread to his lungs and brain.
In order to keep him hopeful, the doctor told him that he had a 20% to 50% chance of survival.
But after the operation was successful, he asked the doctor what his chances of survival were at the time, and the doctor said it was 3%.
After surgically removing the damaged parts of the right testicle and brain, Armstrong underwent a series of chemotherapy treatments and finally made a successful recovery.
The chance of survival, which was originally only 3%, became 100%.
Normal chemotherapy would have damaged his lung function, and he would have said goodbye forever.
Under the advice and guidance of doctors, Armstrong received stricter and more demanding treatments that reduced lung damage.
Return to training and return to the field
During his improvement, Armstrong resumed training.
Affected by the cancer, his weight plummeted and his muscles could no longer go back to the past.
The club also cancelled its contract with him.
After several tough attempts, he finally found a team willing to sign with him, the U.S. Postal Bicycle Team.
Won 7 consecutive crowns and created miracles
In 1998, after being cured of cancer, Lance Armstrong competed in the Tour de France and finished 4th in the overall rankings.
From 1999 to 2005, Lance Armstrong, who had defeated testicular cancer, won the Tour de France for seven consecutive times.
Except for 2003 and 2005, which were 4 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the 2nd place. He was more than 6 minutes ahead of the 2nd place.
This is an unprecedented miracle.
After winning his seventh Tour de France title in 2005, Armstrong announced his retirement.
In 2009, Lance Armstrong announced his comeback, following the Astana team in that year's Tour de France and finishing 4th.
In 2011, Armstrong retired for the second time.
Results cancelled with a lifetime ban
In 2012, Armstrong was investigated for allegedly taking banned drugs, and the results were true.
Subsequently, Armstrong was stripped of all results from August 1, 1998 onwards.
Including the famous 7 Tour de France winners and a lifetime ban.
All the sponsors terminated their contracts with him, and it is estimated that he lost more than $75 million in a single day.
A sigh
It is said that his heart is 1/3 larger than normal, his heart rate is 35, and his body fat is only 4%, which is far beyond the data of ordinary people.
Even though he was later stripped of most of his achievements due to the drug scandal, it still could not erase the legend of Lance Armstrong.
It just made the legend itself, covered with a sigh.