THE STORY

Introduction

Lance Armstrong

Major Taylor

Franklin Artifacts

FOR TEACHERS

Resources

FOR STUDENTS

Activities

REFERENCE

Credits

Major Taylor and Lance Armstrong are two bicycle heroes who succeeded in achieving what many people believed could never be done.

Over a century ago, Major Taylor trained to become a competitive bicyclist. Despite the rampant racism of his time, he raced to win more than a dozen gold medals, and gained a reputation for being the fastest man in the world.

Lance Armstrong, a century later, also gained international acclaim for achievements in bicycling. But only four months before his twenty-fifth birthday, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced cancer. The athlete underwent chemotherapy and worked hard to recover from his illness. In fact, he regained enough strength to continue training rigorously, and became an even stronger bicyclist than before his diagnosis.

To prove his victory over the disease, Armstrong won the Tour de France in three consecutive years. His success brought hope and inspiration to countless cancer patients around the world. Through his hard work and unwavering commitment, Lance demonstrated that with enough determination, no obstacle is too daunting to be overcome.

As you learn more about these gifted athletes and courageous idealists, hopefully you’ll feel inspired to follow your dreams.