Comparing Barack Obama and Lance Armstrong

It’s not very often that I read books and that too, two biographies in under 4 days. Off late I have developed an inclination towards (auto)biographies.

The two that I read in the last 4 days are – “Obama – A Promise of Change” and “Lance Armstrong – Its not about the bike”.

Obama and Armstrong, both are now legends in American history, the former in politics and latter in sports. And its not just their nationality that they share in common, there is much more that I realized is common between the two as I read the two books.

The first common trait that came to my mind was their childhood, their growing up years without the support and presence of a father. Barrack’s father left him with his mother when Barack was only two. Still better than Lance who never knew who his father was till some journalist found him out after Lance’s success in cycling. It may be common in America for young women to raise their children without the support of a husband. And somehow I feel this gives an additional sense of responsibility to the mothers to make the children strong and self dependent, to solve their own problems and to never quit. “You don’t quit” – said Lance’s mother when he was about to quit a race he could not finish.

The other common trait that looms large in the lives of these two greats is the four letter word that that has now become synonymous with Obama – HOPE. Both achieved whatever they achieved against all odds. From a relatively unknown senator to a president elect in less than 5 years and from a cancer survivor and written off cyclist to the winner of tour de France for 5 consecutive years can only be a result of die hard optimism and rigorous hard work. While Lance sweated it out on his bike inflicting himself to physical hardships, Obama’s game was all in his mind, connecting instantly with his audience, who finally voted for him.

No doubt both are great role models of each one of us to help us keep working towards our dreams against all odds.