Unit 1 Page 9 Lesson D2A

page 9: lesson D

against the odds

2: listening and writing

facing a challenge

A: listen to a true story about Lance Armstrong. Complete the sentences with the correct information.

Choose a, b, or c.

Lance Armstrong was born in Texas in 1971.

As a high school student, he was very athletic.

He was especially good at running, swimming and cycling.

By the age of 13 he was competing a junior triathlon, and he became a professional triathlete when he was just 16 years old.

However, he soon found that he love cycling more than swimming and running, so he decided to concentrate on his cycling.

This is the sport he became famous for.

As an athlete, Lance always showed great ambition and determination to succeed.

He says that he gets this aspect of his character not from any cycling friends or particular coach, but from his mother who show the same determination in building her career within a large communication corporation.

In 1990 Lance Armstrong joined the US national cycling team and in 1992 he turned professional.

13 years later, he retired from professional cycling after winning the 2005 tour de France race.

The tour de France is one of the most famous cycling races in the world.

At the beginning of his professional career, lance one many races in the US and internationally, and he lost a few too.

He finished 14 at the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona, but as he continues to win, he started to attract the attention of the sports media and quickly built a name for himself.

Lances brilliant career almost came to an end in 1996 when a doctor told him he was seriously ill with cancer.

He was given only a 40% chance of survival. This was his biggest challenge ever.

But Lance never gave up hope for a full recovery.

He underwent treatment with the same determination that he put into cycling.

And 2 years later in 1998 he returned to racing.

In 1999 he won the tour de France race and he went on to win this race 7 times in 7 years.

More time than any other cyclist.

Lance Armstrong has also founded a charity and raised millions of dollars to help other people with cancer.

He is a great athlete, a great survivor and a truly great human being.