Make Today Your New Beginning.

In 1991, an aspiring young triathlete from Plano, Texas decided to give up his dream of being a world-class triathlete.  He had competed in triathlons since he was 12 years old.  How good was he?  By the age of 16 he was ranked #1 in the US in the 19 year old & under group.  

As an amateur, his point totals were more than the top five ranked professionals in the US.  He was at the top of his game when he decided to change direction. He gave up swimming and running and decided to focus his attention on cycling.

By 1995, he won the US Amateur Cycling Championship and qualified for the US Olympic Team.  But the following year he noticed a sharp decline in his athletic ability and was diagnosed with cancer.  He was given only a 40% chance of recovery.

He underwent numerous surgeries and chemotherapy for brain, lung and testicular cancer.  He had lost a tremendous amount of weight and muscle mass.  To such an aspiring athlete, this must have been devastating.

For most people in those circumstances, it would be easy to look at the situation as “the end” of a dream.  But this young man looked at his circumstances not as the end, …but instead as “the beginning.”

Over the next 7 years, this young man earned the following awards:

ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year, 1999

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, 2002

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

ESPN's ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award, 2003

Oh yeah, there were 7 more accomplishments I failed to mention.

He smashed the existing records for the Tour de France, the world’s premier cycling event and won an unprecedented 7 Tour de France Championships between 1999-2005.

Now you know the real meaning behind “LIVE-STRONG”  

That's right...the atlete is Lance Armstrong.

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