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The Armstrong appeal

Lance Armstrong is being compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan, and indeed he not only dominated his sport but transcended it. In 1999, when Armstrong won his first Tour de France, many Americans looked on the event with disdain - skinny guys in tight shorts riding bikes. Now, it's no coincidence that two other Americans finished in the top 10 this year, or that competitive cycling has seen a resurgence in this country.

Yet even an unprecedented seven straight wins in the most gruelling athletic contest imaginable doesn't fully explain Armstrong's appeal. He didn't just prevail against steep mountains, bad weather and skilled opponents. He beat death itself. That fact, more than any athletic accomplishment, explains why millions of people worldwide are drawn to the man and his life story.

Armstrong discovered in 1996 that undetected testicular cancer had spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain. Odds were long that he would survive the disease, much less return to competitive cycling. As for winning the Tour de France, cycling's ultimate challenge, who but someone with Armstrong's irrepressible will would have even dreamed of it.

A talented but arrogant underachiever early in his career, Armstrong credits his battle with cancer as the turning point. "It gave me a certain sense of hunger and drive and determination that I was going to come back and give it my all," he said. It also explains why he wanted his three young children with him as he hoisted his final cycling trophy.

Armstrong has built another legacy. Look in any crowd and you will spot the yellow bracelets inscribed "LiveStrong," a campaign that has raised tens of millions of dollars for cancer research and patient support. "He brought recognition to the fact that even with a very advanced type of cancer you can survive," said Harmon Eyre, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.

It's not clear what is next for the man everyone knows as Lance. As he soaked in the adulation in Paris Sunday, his son Luke put things in perspective. "Daddy, can we go home and play?" he whispered. Spending more time with his children was the main reason Armstrong gave for retiring from professional cycling. Armstrong has earned our admiration for his athletic prowess, but even more so for his accomplishments as a cancer survivor and father.

[Last modified July 26, 2005, 01:15:21]