LIVESTRONG

Lance Armstrong is one of the most recognized athletes in the world. Refusing to become a statistic, he fought to beat the slim odds of testicular cancer and then used the same determination to cross the finish line and win the Tour de France seven times in a row.

But in today’s world, it’s believed by some that if you’re a great athlete in any sport then you must be doping. It’s as if we no longer believe that there are those athletes who are born great athletes and whose drive and dedication to maximize their God-given talent simply can not exist. Yes, I’m talking to you Travis Tygart.

Travis Tygart, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s chief executive, announced that Armstrong would be punched with a lifetime ban from cycling. The USADA also said that they will strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, surrender his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics, and any awards, event titles and cash earning after Armstrong dropped his legal fight against doping charges and accusations.

"It is a sad day for all of us who love sports and athletes," Tygart said. "It's a heartbreaking example of win at all costs overtaking the fair and safe option. There's no success in cheating to win."

I’m sorry, what did Tygart just say? He’s been on a witch hunt to take down Armstrong for years. He is not sad; he’s taking steroid shots to his ego. Tygart tests positive for being a jealous bully, driven by dollar signs and the realization that he wasn’t blessed with the physical attributes to make him a world famous athlete.

This crusade to take down the unparalleled seven time Tour de France title holder at all cost and for allegedly making deals with other riders that skirt around their own rules just as long as those riders say Armstrong cheated is simply sick. These are positive signs of mental illness for Tygart and entire USADA.

IF YOU HAVE NO PROVEN EVIDENCE YOU ARE NOT GUILTY!

“USADA has broken the law, turned its back on its own rules, and stiff-armed those who have tried to persuade USADA to honor its obligations. At every turn, USADA has played the role of a bully, threatening everyone in its way and challenging the good faith of anyone who questions its motives or its methods, all at U.S. taxpayers’ expense.”

“The idea that athletes can be convicted today without positive A and B samples, under the same rules and procedures that apply to athletes with positive tests, perverts the system and creates a process where any begrudged ex-teammate can open a USADA case out of spite or for personal gain or a cheating cyclist can cut a sweetheart deal for themselves. It’s an unfair approach, applied selectively, in opposition to all the rules. It’s just not right.”

1999-2005 is now marked with an asterisk according to the USADA, but we all know that Lance Armstrong is still the greatest cyclist of all time.

On Thursday, Armstrong made a public statement that enough was enough and he would end his battle with Tygart and the USADA. But his real fight is now focusing on his cancer foundation which has raised nearly $500 million for the fight against cancer. The symbolic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband has been a world symbol of hope and inspiration to those affected by cancer.

Individuals like Tygart take joy out of stripping away titles. And then there are individuals like Lance Armstrong who commit their life to beating the odds and believing that we can all LIVESTRONG.

Star Spangled Awesome!

 Team USA Gymnastics Winning Team Gold

The 2012 Summer Olympics ended with stars and stripes dominating the London games. The United States left with 104 medals; 46 gold, 29 silver and 29 bronze. China came in second with 88 total medals (38 gold, 27 silver, and 23 bronze) followed by Russia with 82 total medals (24 gold, 26 sliver, and 32 bronze). In a total of 47 Olympic Games (both winter and summer) the Untied States of America leads the world in total medals with 2,642 (1,061 gold, 852 sliver, and 739 bronze). The Soviet Union ranks second with 1,204 combined medals and then Germany with 1,143 medals. No other country has over a thousand medals. While there’s no evidence to support the statement that America is the greatest country in the world, the total number of Olympic medals makes the United States of America Star Spangled Awesome!

At age 27, Michael Phelps retired after the London 2012 games as the all time most decorated Olympian. With 16 medals going into the London Games, Phelps became the Aqua Man winning 6 more medals, the most medals of any other Olympic athlete. Phelps will hang up his goggles with 22 total Olympic medals (18 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze). 

But who really runs the world? Girls! America knows how to produce some of the most beautiful athletes to ever wear the red, white, and blue! From women’s gymnastics, swimming, track, beach volleyball, basketball, soccer and more- it was all golden!

For the first time, every competing nation sent female participants to London. Also a first for American women was winning more gold medals than American men.

Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, and Kyla Ross make up the “Fierce Five” representing Team USA in women’s gymnastics and winning the ultimate Olympic prize- Team Gold, their first Olympic team gold since the "Magnificent Seven" in 1996. And what’s more American than rocking the messy bun hairdo?

Women’s gymnastics broke barriers when Gabby became the first African American to win all around gold. Jordyn shocked the world when she didn’t qualify to compete for the individual gold, but being the champion she is, she was the first to compete for team gold. McKayla proves why she owns the vault in qualifying and Aly won individual gold on floor and bronze on the beam. With the team age from 15 to 18 they make up one of the youngest women’s teams and we are rooting that they will be competing in Rio for summer games in 2016. I just have one question for these ladies: How do they not get wedgies?

Melissa Franklin is now a four time Olympic gold medalist. She also earned one bronze medal in the Aquatic Center and she is still in high school. She has refused prize money and any endorsements so that she can maintain her amateur status if she chooses to swim at the collegiate level.

After a 7^th place finish in the Beijing Olympics Lolo Jones under went spinal surgery and fought to compete in London. The controversy over her endorsement deals for her looks over her talent caused some media outlets to focus on Lolo as a pretty face and not a champion. She has won two World Indoor Championships. She was ready for redemption, ready to prove why she is a track goddess on and off the track. We were all heartbroken when Lolo placed 4^th in the 100 meter hurdles. Run to Rio Lolo, third time is a charm!

Remember that “coin toss” earlier this summer between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh? Luck was on Felix’s side as she competed in 4 events. The 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay, placing 5th in the 100m and winning gold in the other three and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in athletics at an Olympics since Florence Griffith-Joyner at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Beach Volleyball may never see a pair this talented. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings win their third straight and final Olympic gold medal with an unbeaten streak to 21 in a row -through Athens, Beijing and now London by defeating Jennifer Kessy and April Ross 21-16, 21-16 in an all-American final.

Women’s basketball earned their fifth consecutive gold medal with their second half domination on the court. France didn’t have a prayer in the second half. And with former Lady VOL Candace Parker on the court, she scored 21 points, including eight straight during the game-changing run in the second quarter as the U.S. took command of the game.

Is there a team with more personality than the Women’s soccer team? What a fun bunch of female athletes! Redemption vs. Japan for the loss at the World Cup in a shootout and it was a GOLDEN Redemption! USA beat Japan 2-1. Lloyd was on fire as she punished both goals to the back of the net. The team played with heart, pride and Solo! Hope Solo proved again why she is the best goalkeeper in the Women’s game. But with out Alex Morgan’s game-winning goal in the 123rd minute semifinals against Canada this game may have not happened.

With presidential elections around the corner, it can bring out the worst in American’s as friends are divided by party affiliations. But every time I watched Team USA stand on the top of medal stand and heard the National Anthem, I got chills. For those moments we all are united on the same team. I’m a proud American and our Olympic Athletes make America Star Spangled Awesome!