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Stavros Odysseus, who has been battling rectal cancer for the past two years, desperately wanted to speak to Lance Armstrong about the cyclist's fight with the potentially fatal disease and, perhaps, get some advice.
His chance came on Wednesday while the seven-time Tour de France champion was visiting a clinic in Pimville, Soweto.
Although Armstrong was surrounded by a posse of bodyguards, Odysseus was able to push through and speak to the cycling legend.
Odysseus now believes even more strongly that he will beat his affliction.
"I was not surprised that he spoke to me because I had read his books and I knew he is a nice guy. He had cancer and beat it, and so can I," said the 27-year-old from the Free State.
Armstrong is in South Africa on a brief visit to support Adcock Ingram's Unite 4 Health campaign, a health and lifestyle programme aimed at disadvantaged communities.
After a press conference in Bryanston, Sandton, Armstrong was whisked away to Soweto, where he was shown feeding schemes and visited the Michael Maponya Clinic in Pimville.
Dozens of children from the nearby Batsogile Primary School lined the clinic's entrance waving South African flags and wearing Unite 4 Health T-shirts in anticipation of seeing the "American celebrity".
Many of of the children actually believed they were waiting to meet American talkshow host Oprah Winfrey.
"Oprah is coming to give us bicycles," said Tebogo Maseko, 11, when asked if he knew who he was going to meet.
However, Baanetsi Mgoza, a Grade 7 pupil, knew exactly who Armstrong was.
"He is a bicycle champion. I saw him on TV," he said.
As Armstrong made his entrance to the clinic, the children sang the national anthem while dozens of press photographers jostled for the perfect picture.
Speaking about his first visit to the country, Armstrong said he was impressed.
"I had no idea what to expect of the country because when I arrived here, it was dark and I was somewhat blinded. But when the sun came up, I was very impressed by the country and how clean it is," he said.
Armstrong said he had always been tempted to visit South Africa to train at high altitude, but was deterred by the high crime rate.
"I have been a bit afraid of a five- to six-hour bike ride in the countryside. People do have a perception that the country is unsafe, but I was telling the guys on the way here that if the country was unsafe, they are sure doing a good job of keeping it hidden," he said.
Asked what he did now that he had retired from cycling, Armstrong said: "I still like to ride my bike. What used to be my job is still my passion.
"However, I am not on my bike for seven hours a day; it is now just two hours a day."
lro@star.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 3 of The Star on January 19, 2006
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