Lance Armstrong - An enigma

To millions around the globe who apotheosize Lance as the ultimate sporting icon, his decision to back down from fighting USADA’a alleged witch hunt against him came as a rude shock. Lance has always been an assiduous fighter, one willing to fight till the last drop of his blood moistens the battle field. Had he continued to fight, the whole world would have reasoned with their hearts rather than letting a mountain of evidence cloud their ‘judgment’, and dismissed the allegations outright as an execrable attempt to malign the sporting world’s greatest hero.

Millions around the world who panegyrize Lance every single day, including yours truly, do not need an exoneration from USADA or WADA to believe in the integrity of one of the grittiest human being alive. All that was needed was a no holds barred fight from our intrepid icon. Bt still millions stand by him. Heart overriding the brain, emotions defying logic, to believe in him as he holds fast to the claim that he never doped. Despite the mounting evidence and alleged confessions by former team mates, the fact remains that he never failed a dope test in competition (there was one instance, but was cleared as it was crystal clear that the trace came from a doctor prescribed drug), and he has denied all malicious allegations thrown at him.

It is superfluous enough for ardent devotees to continue enshrining him at the highest altar. The fact that donations to his foundation increased by an astounding 20 times the very next day of all hell breaking loose, bears testimony to the man’s halo. But for another million neutral admirers, the sheen of Lance’s glory will diminish. It is sad. But as a wise man said “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain”. But the legacy of Lance Armstrong is not just the unprecedented 7 Tour the France titles. He is much more than that. His name was etched in the golden scroll of legends even before he won the first of his seven titles. It was his grit, determination and raw courage which saw him stand up to chronic testicular cancer and reclaim his life and career that cemented his place in the pantheon of demigods. He inspired millions to fight adversities with a determined smile and to come on top.

Even if he was a dope charged-up uber champ, no one can take away the stupendous charity work he has done for cancer victims, his grit and never die spirit with which he cheated death and cornered glory at the highest level, giving hope to millions of cancer patients, inspiring them to fight and never give up. As per Reuters report, the foundation he set up in 1997 has raised more 500 million dollars for the noble cause. His live strong motto and yellow wrist band became the ultimate symbol of hope for the hopeless. In the Indian context, we saw how our very own Yuvraj Singh draw inspiration from Lance in his successful fight against a rare germ cell tumor. It is crystal clear that Lance has positively influenced the society like no other sportsman ever has.

In the eyes of general public, Lance may fall from his celestial pedestal, but it’s difficult or even near impossible to imagine him being condemned as an outright cheat even if a mountain of evidence stares at our face. Millions who deify him may feel a pinch in their heart but will stand by him steadfastly. Romantics among us will sing his paeans as a tragic hero. Barring some hardened critics who may brand him as a traitor, at worse he will be seen as a victim of a corrupt, vindictive system. Lance Armstrong foundation will weather the storm and will continue the good work with religious zeal and fervor and that will be Lance’s lasting immortal legacy.

May be my love and respect for the man is making me sound optimistic. But it will be a cruel twist of fate if Lance and the foundation are to bite dust, not only for the man himself but also for the millions indebted to him for their fight back from death and for his legions of ardent fans. To have a check on where we stand, USADA has branded him as a drug cheat and threatened to strip him of all of his silverware including the 7 tour the France crowns and Olympic medal and even his prize money.

But they don’t have the last word. The International court of arbitration for sports will have its say and it is up to the UCI, the International Cycling union to decide Lance’s fate. Even if stripped of his crowns, it’s a safe bet that he will remain a champion in the minds of cycling fraternity and more importantly for the millions he inspired. For many of us, it is tough to believe that a man who won the mother of all battles, that is against Mr. Death himself, will throw that all away for a shot at ephemeral glory. Only father time can tell us what will be Lance’s Armstrong’s legacy. But it is a foregone conclusion that he will remain an enigma for generations of sports enthusiasts.