Today in the world there are numerous icons, which come in all different races,
gender and classes. These icons all have specific traits that make them unique.
We look up to these people and sometimes idealize them. There is a certain
appeal to a particular person that we have. It is very hard to clearly identify what
we find so appealing about a person. I have many questions when I think about
icons. There seems to be some indescribable feature about one of these icons that
makes them stand out.. Some icons that appear in our American society are
Michael Jackson, Madonna, Tiger Woods and yes, even the train wreck Miss
Brittany Spears. All of these people have certain qualities in them and represent
something special. What makes these people icons? Why do they have something
that others don't? What exactly is their appeal? I have come to realize that in
today's society the largest icons are among our teenagers.Perhaps these people
have made a huge impact on today's society, but are they really positive?
My focus is on Lance Armstrong. A retired American professional road cyclist.
He won the Tour de France a record-breaking seven consecutive years, from 1999
to 2005. He is the only individual to win seven times, having broken the previous
record of five wins, shared by Miguel Indurain (consecutive) and Bernard Hinault,
Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil. Prior to this, he also survived testicular
cancer, a germ cell tumor that metastasized to his brain and lungs, in 1996. His
cancer treatments included brain and testicular surgery and extensive
chemotherapy, and his prognosis was not originally to be great.
Many have discussed the reasons for Armstrong's success in the winning of
seven Tours in a row. No single factor seems to be responsible except for the
driving strength from within. It also seems to be a combination of his training...