Some of the most successful people in life have had to overcome disadvantages and obstacles that most others take for granted. I think Lance Armstrong is one of those successful people. Lisa, Lance's mother, knew things wouldn't be easy for him because she was only 17 when he was born and his father was never in the picture. She raised him enforcing an unbending rule: " make every obstacle an opportunity."
             Lance developed a love for endurance sports at an early age. He joined a local swim club when he was in the fifth grade and he trained with a coach that Lance says to this day is one of the best coaches he has ever had. When Lance was 13, he started riding a bike to swim practice. His daily workout routine consisted of 6 miles in the water and 20 miles on the bike. Pretty soon Lance became known all around the country because he was already a professional triathlete at the age of fifteen. Lance and his mom would travel all over Texas and other southern states entering as many races as possible. When he was sixteen years old he was making about $20,000 a year racing.
             By the time he was a senior in high school his main interest was cycling. That year he was named to the U.S. national cycling team and he left home to go to Europe and race. Cycling is huge in Europe and it's where the best riders in the world are. He was racing as an amateur and became notorious for riding races on pure strength and not relying heavily on team tactics. Riding without relying on team tactics wasn't the smartest way to ride but he was unusually strong and coaches were saying he was one of the best young cyclists they have seen in years.
             As most elite athletes do, Lance underwent physiological scientific tests to analyze his level of fitness. The tests determine how your body reacts to the stress of exercise. At only sixteen years old, He already had the highest VO2 Max the Texas Sports Research Facility has ever recorded....