I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.

People refer to 'the good ol' days', but I don't know what they're talking about. As someone who's battled cancer, if I lived more than 20 years ago, I'd be a dead man.

Nobody wants to hear how I think I've been mistreated, or how I think my punishment should be lifted, or tweaked, or reduced. Nobody wants to hear me say that, nobody cares what I think about this. I get it.

I joined the swim team when I was 12, and I was the worst kid in the pool - I was put with a group of 7-year-olds.

I wanted to live, but whether I would or not was mystery, and in the midst of confronting that fact, even at that moment, I was beginning to sense that to stare into the heart of such a fearful mystery wasn't a bad thing. To be afraid is a priceless education. P 99

I got the three things I wanted. I did my job, I worked hard in the process, and I cherish the memories, and they're mine.

My advice to you is never stop believing.