Oprah Winfrey’s TV interview with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong will be broadcast from 1pm AEDT today – join The Roar as we live blog the event with updates, reactions and full coverage as it happens.
Our team will follow Armstrong’s impending confession. Will it be one of the biggest ‘tell-all’ interviews in sports history, or will it be more of a ‘tell-some’ affair?
Earlier this week, the fallen sporting idol sat down with the queen of American daytime television, and by all reports confessed to using doping substances during his decorated career, which included seven Tour de France titles, since rescinded.
Winfrey came armed to the interview, carried out in a hotel in Armstrong’s home city of Austin, Texas.
Her team prepared 112 questions for her to use in grilling Armstrong, with Winfrey subsequently reporting that Armstrong answered “most” of the questions.
Armstrong said earlier in the week that viewers could judge for themselves how candid he was in the interview.
“I left it all on the table with her, and when it airs the people can decide,” he said.
Oprah’s interview was originally scheduled for a 90-minute special, but has split into two parts after it was decided to air the entire two-and-a-half hour interview unedited. Part two will air tomorrow, at the same time.
Join us as we cover the event live.
MORE: For sanity’s sake, play along with our drinking game as you watch.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
And that concludes the interview, We’ll never know whether Armstrong is truly remorseful and most of us don’t care about his financial losses. For cycling there could be positive repercussions if, as Travis Tygart suggests, Armstrong testifies under oath which will assist authorities to learn about the secrets and nature of doping cultures. It could also implicate powerful figures such Thomas Weisel, the weathy financier and former owner of US Postal who has been accused of covering up his team’s doping and UCI President at the time Hein Verbruggen who had financial links with Weisel and has been accused of covering up Armstrong’s positive samples. Looking on the positive side, Armstrong’s awful legacy does have one redeeming feature: Livestrong, the foundation that has raised almost $500 million for cancer sufferers.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Strange feeling really. The bloke is mentally one of the toughest human being I have ever seen. To paraphrase him, ' the scariest'.
boes
Roar Pro
Oprah has been found guilty of ad doping.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Not surprisingly, and unortunatly, Oprah finishes the interview with a quote fro Armstrong's ex-wife; "the truth will set you free".
Turnover
Roar Guru
Going from thinking your dad is one of the greatest sportsman of all time and one of the most inspirational people in the world to this, must be unimaginably difficult for his kids
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
To the question "are you a better human being because of this" he replies "without a doubt". He said after his cancer he became a better and smarter person, and then lost his way!
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
No-one is interested in hearing Armstrong say he's an optimist who never looks back to the past
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
His loss of income seems to have affected him more than loss of reputation and friends, and Oprah seems to agree; "$75 million, it just went out of your life" as if she's talking about a family member or close friend
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Armstrong denies that he or any of his associates offered USADA the $150k bribe / donation
Bondy
Guest
A proper weirdo, he's major concren or grievance was when the sponsors pulled the plug over a couple of days ,shocking this stuff , the longer it goes the more sickening it becomes. Well done with the stream guys.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Oprah asks him the question "have you told anyone the whole truth" and he says yes after a long pause. Unfortunatly she doesn't go further and ask who besides his ex-wife knows the whole truth
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Says the biggest hope for him confessing is the wellbeing of his children
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Armstrong tells his son not to defend him any more. Even though he is crying, his manner still appears contrived
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Oprah tilting her head and nodding. She's loving this
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Armstrong tears up for the first time when he explains seeing his son defending him
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Armstrong says his ex-wife Kristin and his children deserve "the honest truth", as if there is such a thinkg as a dishonest truth
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
His lack of emotion is at odds with his words of contrition
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
His key word yesterday was "flawed", today it is "absolutely"
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Described the photo he tweeted of the 7 jerseys, as an example of more defiance
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Asked if he got what he deserved, he ridiculously replies "yes, but I don't deserve the death penalty"