Lance Armstrong - Hero or Villain?

Lance ArmstrongHero or villain?

Who is Lance Armstrong?

Cyclist, Cancer Survivor, Philanthropist. Not an astronaut!

A bit about the HERO.

• Born September 18th 1971 in Plano, Texas.

• At aged 16, Armstrong became a professional triathlete.

• Sprint course champion in 1989 and 1990 aged 19.

• Won the world road race championship in August 1993 aged just 21.

• Diagnosed with cancer in 1996 aged just 25, declared cancer a cancer survivor in 1997.

• Established the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997.

• Still holds the record for the highest VO2 max.

• Raised over $500 million dollars to date to help beat cancer and provide support services to cancer survivors.

• Won the Tour de France 7 consecutive times between 1999 and 2005.

The Tour de FranceMost physically demanding sporting event in the world.

•Founded in 1903.•2400 miles•23 days•19 teams•181 riders•25.5 mph average speed.•Over 21,000 meters climbed,

A bit about the Villain.

• Drug allegations began to circulate following Lances Tour de France win in 1999 after beating cancer.

• Suspicions grow following consecutive tour wins but strongly refuted by Armstrong.

• Under formal investigation by the U.S Anti Doping Agency in 2010, formal charges filed in June 2012.

• 5 former teammates planned to testify against him, claims that Armstrong ran sophisticated doping program.

• Despite never testing positive for any banned substance in August 2012 Armstrong gives up fight against USADA.

• Banned from the sport for life.

• Stripped of all Tour de France titles and all but eliminated from records.

What was his response to the allegations?

“If you consider my situation: a guy who comes back from, you know, a death sentence, why would I then enter into a sport and dope myself up and risk my life again? That’s crazy. I would never do that. No. No way.”

- Lance Armstrong 2005

What happened next…Sponsors one by one started to drop Lance….•TREK Bicycles•Radioshack•Oakley•Anheuser-Busch•Easton-Bell Giro Helmets•NIKE•Stepped down from Livestrong.

Obviously he suffered a huge loss in future earnings….

•Over $150 million worth of future earnings to be exact.•Had to repay $7 million in prize money!•A claw back of $9.5 million dollars from Insurance company SCA Promotions.

In an interview with Oprah in January 2013 Lance Armstrong admitted everything.

“Yes or no, did you ever take banned substances to enhance your cycling performances?” – Oprah

“Yes” – Armstrong

“In all 7 of your tour de france victories did you ever take banned substances or blood dope” – Oprah

“Yes” - Armstrong

Then he did this…

In 2013 it all became too much for Lance.

What about the LIVESTRONG Foundation?

• Armstrong steps down in October 2012 as a result of the USADA report regarding blood doping.

• Since the foundation parted ways with Armstrong donations and activity has dropped off steeply but continues to function.

• 80 million yellow wrist bands have been sold to date.

So…Lance Armstrong…HERO or Villain?

• In a sport where doping was common place, did Lance deserve to be punished to the extent he was?

• On a level playing field would Lance still have won?

• Does his doping outweigh the good he has done for cancer survivors?