Born: September 18, 1971
Place of Birth: Plano, Texas
Major Notes:
Lance Armstrong, with seven victories, holds the record for the Tour de France cycling race.
He credits his mother for the strong work ethic he acquired in his athletic career.
His mother took Armstrong to triathlon events which helped his confidence and pointed out his ability as a cyclist.
When Lance Armstrong was offered the opportunity to train six weeks with the Junior National Cycling Team, the Plano school authorities informed
Armstrong this would bar him from high school graduation.
Nevertheless, his mother withdrew him from school so he could accept the offer.
In 1991, Armstrong won the US amateur cycling championship.
He turned professional after finishing 14th in the 1992 Olympics.
Over the next few years, Lance Armstrong continued to improve with wins in 1995 and 1996 in the major US cycling Tour Du Pont race.
Unfortunately, he developed testicular cancer in 1996 which spread to his lungs and brain.
With less than a 50/50 chance of survival, Armstrong undertook surgery and a routine of high-dose chemotherapy treatments.
He started training again in late 1997 and by 1999 Lance Armstrong qualified to enter the famous Tour de France.
With a strong will and determination to win, Armstrong won this event and the next six Tour de France events.
It was discovered that Armstrong's heart is much larger than normal and this gave him some advantage over other racers.
In addition to a larger heart, Armstrong's training routine was such that he actually increased his muscle efficiency as well.
Lance Armstrong is considered by many as the world's most famous cyclist ever.
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