FEATURE STORY
LEGENDARY CYCLIST
Lance Armstrong
His Truth Exposed In A Raw , Unfiltered , And Polarizing Interview : " I Wouldn ' t Change A Thing "
BY CINDY PANETTI CYR
In 2012 , Lance Armstrong was sitting on top of the world . The most dominant and successful professional cyclist in history , he ’ d won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times between 1999 and 2005 , elevating cycling to global popularity . He ’ d established the Lance Armstrong Foundation ( rebranded to Livestrong in 2003 ) after surviving Stage 3 testicular cancer , which had spread to his lymph nodes , brain , lungs , and abdomen . During his involvement in Livestrong , he raised $ 500 million for cancer research , treatment , and support , including a personal donation of $ 6.5 million . Livestrong was also able to support 100,000 people through free programs and services , such as counseling , clinical trial matching , and insurance management .
But on January 17 , 2013 , everything changed when Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career in an interview with Oprah Winfrey . Overnight , he went from one of the most well-known , loved , and celebrated sports figures in the world to a pariah , stripped of his titles and sponsorships , denied by the foundation he started , sued , and denounced on multiple levels .
It ’ s been 11 years since his confession and public apology . His admission cost him his reputation , more than $ 100 million , and his foundation , and he was banned from professional cycling .
Despite all that , he ’ s managed to land on his feet . Investments he made prior to 2012 , including one in Uber in 2009 , helped save him from financial ruin . Armstrong began podcasting in 2016 and hosts two popular podcasts today : The Forward Podcast and THEMOVE . Well-received , the podcasts generate significant revenue through corporate sponsorship , product sales , and subscription services . The Forward Podcast covers an eclectic range of topics featuring guests from politics ,
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