Oprah Winfrey
More than just a media mogul, Oprah overcame childhood poverty and abuse to become one of the most influential, altruistic figures in the world. And that's what we know for sure.
Lance Armstrong
Not only did Lance win the Tour de France seven consecutive times, he began his streak three years after treatment for testicular cancer. His Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised $180 million-plus and inspired millions of folks with and without cancer to Live Strong.
Dara Torres
Talk about staying power: The first American swimmer to compete in five Olympic Games, Dara won silver medals in three events in Bejing two years ago at age 41. That's 24 years after her debut as an Olympian. She's earned a total of 12 medals, including four golds.
Randy Pausch
In the two years before his death in 2008, this computer science professor, who had terminal pancreatic cancer, became famous for his "Last Lecture." The inspirational and emotional talk outlining how he achieved his childhood dreams became a book that made the New York Times bestseller list.
