Lance Armstrong

By Jack Chui

Another one in the backlog - from last month...

I don't follow cycling except for what's on the 6pm news but most of us would know of Lance Armstrong who is one of cycling's greatest champions. Last month he was stripped of all his cycling victories and banned from competitive cycling - see this article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-22/armstrong-stripped-of-tour-titles-banned-for-life/4327916

The evidence against Armstrong is damning. But I really like his approach to the whole scandal. I remembered reading the news a week or so before the decision was made when the news was starting to build about everyone coming out to speak against him. Lance came out with a statement that he would not challenge the allegations made against him. He would not fight it because he knew that this would take a toll on him, his family and his charity Livestrong and these were far more important than his own credibility.

That action so reminds me so much of what Jesus did on the cross. He did not fight the authorities and he let them do to him whatever they wanted. Jesus was truly innocent. I'll never know if Lance was guilty or not. All the evidence points that way, and if he did wrong, then he'll have to pay the price for it in this life and/or the next. How many of us would in Lance's position fight to protect some of his most valuable achievements. Its only natural to defend what is ours especially the hard fought ones and those that are worth a lot.

But Armstrong knew that his family and charity were far more valuable than 7 Tour de France titles. He gave it up. The world has turned against him. His sponsors have deserted him and his charity in droves. However to me, he is great champion, not because he survived testicular cancer and won the Tour de France, but because of his action not to fight. That's real courage. Armstrong like all of us will have a limited lifespan and eventually, his name will be forgotten over time. I pray though, that his charity Livestrong will continue his good work, that like our Church, it will outlive any individual and whatever reputation they have.

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” -- Lance Armstrong