Falling Down
- Submitted by: pipanne
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- Category: English: Creative Writing
- Date Submitted: 08/08/2014 06:37 AM
- Pages: 3
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Falling Down
As a cyclist, I understand the demands the sport makes of a person both mentally and physically. The Cape Argus for example, is a gruelling competition complete with searing heat, formidable winds and punishing terrain that throws many curve balls at competitors. Even as an amateur sportsman, I know the importance of sportsmanship. It used to be that players didn't drink because they had a reputation that they needed to keep, clean, law abiding morally good people. Run ins’ with the law didn't happen. Drugs weren't an option. Sportsmen and woman were people we dreamt of emulating one day, when we were children, Lance Armstrong was no different.
Mr Armstrong, the darling of the cycling fraternity and perhaps the world itself to a greater or lesser extent. The man who, despite his battles with testicular cancer, won the Tour De France an incredible seven times; how he filled us all with hope and awe. Lance had it all. This great man who gave his name to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, with a mission 'to inspire and empower' cancer survivors and their families and provide support to guide people through the cancer experience. Lance Armstrong, now better known to us as a bully, a liar and a sporting cheat on a level never experienced before.
It is again worth reflecting on the fact that despite approximately 600 drug tests, Lance Armstrong never tested positive for doping. Anyone who publically accused him faced being sued for libel. Team mates, coaches and medical support staff were all made accessories in his deception. In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping and trafficking of drugs and testimonies from witnesses including former teammates. The game was up and he was finally exposed. Why would a man of his stature take performance enhancing drugs? Is winning by any means more important than the means employed?
Lance Armstrong’s actions have damaged the sporting world. It has put the world of cycling...
As a cyclist, I understand the demands the sport makes of a person both mentally and physically. The Cape Argus for example, is a gruelling competition complete with searing heat, formidable winds and punishing terrain that throws many curve balls at competitors. Even as an amateur sportsman, I know the importance of sportsmanship. It used to be that players didn't drink because they had a reputation that they needed to keep, clean, law abiding morally good people. Run ins’ with the law didn't happen. Drugs weren't an option. Sportsmen and woman were people we dreamt of emulating one day, when we were children, Lance Armstrong was no different.
Mr Armstrong, the darling of the cycling fraternity and perhaps the world itself to a greater or lesser extent. The man who, despite his battles with testicular cancer, won the Tour De France an incredible seven times; how he filled us all with hope and awe. Lance had it all. This great man who gave his name to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, with a mission 'to inspire and empower' cancer survivors and their families and provide support to guide people through the cancer experience. Lance Armstrong, now better known to us as a bully, a liar and a sporting cheat on a level never experienced before.
It is again worth reflecting on the fact that despite approximately 600 drug tests, Lance Armstrong never tested positive for doping. Anyone who publically accused him faced being sued for libel. Team mates, coaches and medical support staff were all made accessories in his deception. In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping and trafficking of drugs and testimonies from witnesses including former teammates. The game was up and he was finally exposed. Why would a man of his stature take performance enhancing drugs? Is winning by any means more important than the means employed?
Lance Armstrong’s actions have damaged the sporting world. It has put the world of cycling...