Athletic Profile: Cyclist Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has been competing since his childhood in Plano, TX. His career intentions started to show themselves when at age 13, Armstrong won the Iron Kids Triatholon and when on to turn pro at the age of 16. During his senior year of high school, Armstrong began training in cycling with the US Olympic development team in Colorado Springs, CO. This was the start of his cycling career and in 1989, he qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow and two years later became the US National Amateur Champion before turning professional.

As a pro, he proved himself time and again by winning championship titles and a victory at the Tour de France. He also won a spot on the US Olympic team. By 1996, Armstrong was ranked as the number one cyclist in the world and completed in the Summer Olympics, held in Atlanta. Soon after, he signed on as a member of the French-based Cofidis racing team.

Just as life for Armstrong seemingly could not get much better professionally, health-wise, Armstrong received news that would not only alter his career but his entire life. He began experiencing pain so excruciating that it prevented him from being on his bike. He soon discovered that he had advanced testicular cancer that has already spread to his brain and his lungs. At that time, Armstrong was given less than a 50/50 chance of recovery. While he was scared, Armstrong remained determined and began aggressive chemotherapy. Following the advise of specialists, he began a treatment where he might make a full recovery and less risk of losing his lung capacity. The treatment began to work and as Armstrong began fighting with everything he had, he mentally began to think about racing again.

The fight against his cancer was physically and emotionally draining but the athlete felt the experience was the best thing to happen to him. His changed perspective allowed him to think about more than cycling and his attention was turned to helping the cancer community that had helped him. He founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation shortly after his diagnosis to help other who were also fighting cancer. While his goodwill efforts carried along, Armstrong eventually was given a clean bill of health. His return to racing however wasn’t the smoothest of transitions. He has left his racing team and was unsure of where his career stood. The United States Postal Service ended up signing Armstrong and he in turn, set out with gusto to reprove himself as a leader in the sport of cycling. His professional comeback in 1998 didn’t exactly start out as planned. Early in 1998, during the Paris-Nice race, Armstrong pulled off to the side of the road and quit the race.

Many thought this was the end but Armstrong later admitted he wasn’t ready for a return. Taking some time off, he learned how to live post-cancer and build up the courage to race again. In 1999, after winning a handful of other races, Armstrong wanted one thing – a win at the Tour de France. While many would have considered his ability to race after the battle with cancer was a victory of its own, Armstrong wanted a win – and win he did. In the years to follow, he won 6 more times and awarded nearly every sports honor that exists, including Male Athlete of the Year by several top sporting organizations and media outlets.

Armstrong currently is in retirement. Through his LIVESTRONG foundation with partner Nike, Armstrong continues to support the cancer community as well as encourage and empower others to take control of their lives and their health. The foundation’s website LIVESTRONG.com offers many resources for the public to help promote health, fitness, and healthy lifestyles.

Legend of the Game: Profile of The Williams Sisters

Having one professional athlete in a family is rare – having two professional American athlete siblings is almost unthinkable!  Serena and Venus Williams (The Williams Sisters) beat those odds, however, and have both previously held the number 1 ranking for tennis players.  Currently, they are ranked two and three in the world.

Serena and Venus have played each other many times in Grand Slam singles tournaments, as well as other professional tournaments.  They are the only women during the open era to have played one another in four consecutive Grand Slam singles finals.  Their head to heard series is currently tied 10 to 10.

Serena Williams

Serena was born in 1981.  She is known for breaking records in the game of professional tennis!  She held the World No. 1 ranking by the Women’s Tennis Association on four different occasions.  She won 2 Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles.  Throughout the course of her career, she has won more prize money than any other female athlete (ever!), with more than $24 million awarded.

Serena has won 20 Grand Slam titles, including 10 titles in singles, 2 in mixed doubles, and 8 in doubles.  She is the reigning Australian Open singles champion as well as the US Open champion.  In fact, Serena is the most recent athlete, male or female, to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles at the same time.  She is the only female to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Venus Williams

Venus was born in 1980, and previously held the World No. 1 American tennis player ranking by the Women’s Tennis Association.  Venus turned professional in 1994, and since then has won 56 titles including 17 Grand Slam titles – 7 in singles, 2 in mixed doubles, and 8 in women’s doubles.  Other than Reginald Doherty, Venus has won three Olympic gold medals, including one in singles and two in women’s doubles – more Olympic gold medals than any other tennis player.  Venus is second only to her sister in prize money earnings, winning over $22 million.

Off the courts, Venus is the Chief Executive Office of an interior design firm called V Starr Interiors.  The company has designed the Olympic athletes apartments as part of the US package for hosting the 2012 Olympic Games in New York City, designed the set for the PBS show, Tavis Smiley Show, as well as residences and businesses in and around Palm Beach, Florida.  She has also teamed with the athletic clothing retailer, Steve & Barry’s, to launch her own fashion lined called EleVen in 2007.