Lance Armstrong: A True Sport or Not?
Joining and winning competitions may bring one to the peak of his career, yet can also lead him to the unexpected downhill road. Cyclist champion Lance Armstrong is the epitome of one who has recently lived this cycle of life. He worked towards the peak of his career in cycling only to find himself rolling down the road with the entire world’s eyes on that tragic journey.
The article I chose to write a review on is The Unfinished Road of Lance Armstrong written by Jason Gay published in Wall Street Journal. I chose to read this article because of the event’s personal meaning to me. I am a cyclist myself. To me, my cycling peers, and all other cyclists worldwide, Lance Armstrong is definitely an icon. The outbreak of the doping scandal allegedly put on Armstrong had indeed stirred waves of emotions in all of us cyclists and to everyone else who give value to hard work in pursuit of success.
This paper presents a summary of the widely-read article of Jason Gay on the recent controversy of the Tour de France champion. It also presents my opinion about the matter and how it slightly shook my world.
The Unfinished Road of Lance Armstrong: A Summary
The main claim of Jason Gay in this featured article is that the judgement regarding Lance Armstrong’s controversy now lies in the hands of the public. Armstrong, the well-renowned cyclist, has given up the battle against U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), who accused him of using performance enhancement drugs. USADA, on the other hand, has also ceased the case and decided not to push forward despite its previous offer to expose testimonies from ten teammates of Armstrong. Gay states that because the fight had been dropped by both sides, the people are now left to make conclusions for themselves. Gay offers his insight that Armstrong’s simply backing off and walking away from a fight like this is quite unlikely of him, who became famous precisely for coming out clean of greater battles such as the cancer he was diagnosed with. Armstrong was looked up to by many because of how squarely he battled with his medical condition and how it prompted him to do great good through his charitable works.
The article presents the recent fact that Armstrong surrendered his Tour de France titles after being stripped of them by the USADA. Despite this move and with the case being unresolved legally, the public are once again left frustrated as they had always been with other cases of athletes allegedly using performance enhancement drugs. Gay himself shares his frustration for being left in a "maddening space between controversy and a clear conclusion."
He offers more personal insights about similar cases of personal accomplishments of athletes that are marred with allegations. Since these athletes are usually left "in the gray", with no definite closure to the accusations, they are left to move forward, giving witness to their innocence, yet are not able to get the sympathy of every person. The public will always be divided into two poles - the sceptics and the believers.
Gay offers his readers his personal feeling of connection with Armstrong that started when he himself received a cancer diagnosis and found strength and comfort in Armstrong's life story. Gay admits the emotional slant of the article because Armstrong had been for him a character-turned-real during his own life-changing moment.
A Response to the Unfinished Road of Lance Armstrong
After reading this rather emotional article, I came to affirm my personal stance on competitions and achievements. I believe that competing must be a personal business with a personal desire to outdo oneself and be the best he can be with what nature has given him. Once fame and power become the direct goal – or even subtle for that matter – anybody can be compelled to let external forces intervene with the natural course. I believe that a genuine sportsmanship skill and attitude is built up through personal discipline, hard work, training, and a pure intention. Winning is not the end-all of a real sport. Winning is the end-all of businessmen. If I were to compete in anything, it would be much more rewarding if I won at the end of vigorous preparation and rigorous actual performance.
But then again, I cannot be naïve that this belief of mine is easier said than done. Perhaps it is even far from reality. In fact, during the recent London Olympics, the public was randomly asked by media if they would compete for the gold or they would compete for self-fulfilment. Naturally, there were more persons who answered that they would compete for the gold and do everything to achieve that goal.
It is quite unfortunate that the mentality towards sports and the spirit of sportsmanship seemed to have been undermined already. The true spirit of sports had been thrown off track in favour of other factors, such as politics and the money involved in any sports competition.
As a cyclist myself, though not in the competition level, I always keep in mind that when I ride, I try to do better each time, with my own capacity as my benchmark. I need not compete for the fame and power it can bring me but I can compete with myself, knowing that today I can do better than I did yesterday. This for me is what gives me a robust sense of self-fulfilment. And I still firmly believe that in every athlete, the innermost and most intimate pride for one’s achievement is what matters most.
Reference
Gay, J. (2012, August 26). The unfinished road of Lance Armstrong. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444327204577613451543783914.html
