My name is Connor Roggero. I chose Lance Armstrong as the person whose biography I wanted to write for my reading class assignment. I chose Lance Armstrong because he is very athletic and never gives up. I hope you learn something you did not know about him.
This is my first website. My mom helped me. She really likes Lance Armstrong too. Too much, I think!
On September 18, 1971, Lance Armstrong was born in Oak Cliff, Texas. His mother, Linda, was seventeen when he was born. Lance's first last name was Gunderson. Before Lance was even two, his father left the family. He does not remember his father.
In 1974, Lance was adopted by his mother's second husband, Terry Armstrong. They moved to Plano, Texas. This marriage did not last either. So, Lance and his mom had only each other.
Lance liked to ride his bike, swim and run when he was a kid. He practiced alot and got really good. He began to compete against other kids in triathlons. Triathlons are races with biking, running and swimming. After he won lots of races, he decided he would like to be a professional athlete. His mom was always a hard worker who never gave up and that was an example Lance never forgot.
Even though Lance excelled in the triathlon, he liked the bicycling part the very best. He became part of the United States National Cycling Team. It was there Lance met a man named Chris Carmichael who would become his coach. At first, Lance wanted to do things his way and not listen to his coach's way of how to race. Chris Carmichael never gave up on Lance because he knew he was a champion.
In 1992, Lance tried out for the Olympic team but did not make it. So Lance decided to turn professional instead. He finished last in the first race he did. He had to learn how to be part of a team and not just want to win all by himself. He raced in his first Tour de France in 1993. He won a part of the race called a stage but did not finish the entire race. Lance also raced in the World Championships that year and won! He did not complete the Tour de France until 1995 but did not win the race. He felt that he learned a lot about this sport though and how to be a better cyclist.
Click here to see the type of bike Lance ridesWhen Lance was 25 years old, he found out he had cancer. It was October 2, 1996 when his doctor told him. Lance was shocked. On that day, his life changed. He had to have surgery and get chemotherapy treatment or he would die. The cancer had spread to his lungs and brain. He had only a twenty percent chance to live. Lance had two goals. He wanted to survive and go back to his racing career.
Lance talked to many different doctors. He had to have two surgeries and chemotherapy so the cancer would not spread. He got very sick from the medicine. The only food that tasted good to him during this time was apple fritters. He kept riding his bike when he could even though it was hard. It made him feel better knowing he could do it.
Lance got to meet lots of other people who were fighting cancer just like he was. He was cancer free in February, 1997. Even though he got better, he wanted to help others with cancer. So, he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation to get information to people with cancer and to raise money for cancer treatment research. This is when he met a woman named Kristin Richard. They fell in love and were married in May 1998.
Click here to Visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation websiteAfter resting for almost a year to let his body get better from all the chemotherapy, Lance thought maybe it was time to race again. His friend and coach, Chris Carmichael told him he could do it. Lance tried but wasn't ready. He had to think about what he really wanted. Finally, Lance and Chris went to North Carolina to start training all over again. It was there that Lance trained hard and was really ready to become a racer again.
That year, Lance competed in a few races and did well. In 1999, he was ready for the longest and toughest bicycle race in the world; the Tour de France.
Lance trained all the time in 1999 for the Tour which is in July. He was on a United States team sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service. Lance won the very first stage of the race on July 3, 1999 and got to wear the yellow jersey for being in the lead. In the mountains is where Lance raced the best. He said his team is strong in the mountains. Then his dream of winning the Tour De France became real. He finished in first place. Most people thought he could have never done that. But Lance never gave up!
Click here for the official Tour de France websiteSince Lance liked to compete, he wanted to win the Tour de France again. Most people thought he could never do it twice. Lance liked to prove them wrong. Lance trained almost all year long to make sure he won. He kept in close contact with all the members of the U.S. Postal Team. With the help of his teammates, Lance won again in the year 2000.
Lance went on to win the next five Tour de France races for a total of seven straight victories. No one else in the entire world has won more than five times. Lance won seven in a row! He made history.
Lance also won in another way. His cancer never came back as it does for some people. In 2004, officials at Nike starting selling yellow bracelets that had the words "Live Strong" on them. The money goes to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.Each bracelet is one dollar. There have been 47.5 million sold so far.
Lance also has 3 children. His son Luke was born October 12, 1999. He also has twin girls born November 20, 2001. Their names are Isabelle and Grace. He and Kristin are no longer married but are still good parents to the kids. Lance nows dates musician Sheryl Crow. After he won the Tour de France in 2005, he retired from professional bicycle racing.
Lance Armstrong is a legend because he never gave up. He decided to do whatever he could to reach his goals. He has written two books. He helps other people. He lives strong!
Check out the official Lance Armstrong website
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
“Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.”
"I don't have any more bad days. I have good days and I have great days."