Anybody else read about this yet? My prayers go out to Eric and his family!!!
Olympic Swimmer Shanteau Has Testicular Cancer
Jul 11, 10:29 AM (ET) Email this Story
ATLANTA (AP) -Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau is heading to Beijing with a devastating diagnosis: He has testicular cancer.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Shanteau said he learned just a week before the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., that he had cancer. His doctors cleared him to compete in that meet and he surprisingly made the team in the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing second ahead of former world-record holder and heavy favorite Brendan Hansen.
Even though Shanteau's doctors have advised him to have surgery now, he's planning to put it off until after Beijing because he doesn't want to disrupt his lifelong goal. The 24-year-old Georgia native will be monitored closely over the next month and vows to drop out of the Olympics if there's any sign is cancer is spreading.
from the Olympic Team Update:
Press Conference from Training Camp (7/24/2008)
Can you give us an update on Eric Shanteau and how he’s handling everything physically and mentally?
Reese: Eric has handled this whole situation better than our coaching staff has. We were more worried than he was. He just got the last blood work that will be taken here, and he’s in great shape. They’ve given him the go-ahead to go on to (our training camp in) Singapore and Beijing, basically with no worries. He’s an over-worker. He always works harder than you want, more often than you want. He’s been working great. We did a set today that put him in a better position than he was going into Trials, and he’s further away from the discovery of his cancer. The heat of the moment has been diminished, so he’s focusing more on his swimming now than ever before, and he’s in great shape.
article in Austin's paper today
Austin's Shanteau takes on inspirational role
With some help from Lance Armstrong's team, he's competing in Beijing despite recent cancer diagnosis.
www.statesman.com/.../0807olyswim.html
I had a nice conversation with Eric Shanteau at the Swim Center on Friday Sep 18 & he sent me this note. I decided to support Eric with his LiveStrong challenge i'm just thrilled that his cancer is behind him:
Dear Friends and Family,
My name is Eric Shanteau and as you may know I have been a swimmer most my life. The sport is a major part of my identity; however, last summer just weeks before I competed in the Beijing Olympic Games, I was given a new identity that I will carry with me the rest of my life. I am a cancer survivor.
I was diagnosed with testicular cancer on June 19, 2008. After a successful
surgery, I have thankfully been cancer free since September 15, 2008. After
defeating cancer, I returned to the water and have since become a World Record Holder, American Record Holder, and a World Champion. I have also teamed up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the global fight against cancer.
If you are not aware, the LAF seeks to inspire and empower people affected by cancer, and through the LIVESTRONG Challange, I’m picking a fight with cancer and uniting with others who are interested in making cancer a global priority. This year I will be taking to the road at the LIVESTRONG Challenge Summit in Austin, TX on October 25, 2009. On this day I am going to race my bike 90 miles to show that once again, “I had cancer, it never had me.”
I need you to join me in this effort and help me raise $5,000 for the fight
against cancer. Your support will mean a lot to me and the millions of people
worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Any contributions can be made online through my website at:
www.ericshanteau.net/.../Livestrong.html
Please help me in making a difference for the 28 million people worldwide who
are living with cancer. Thank you in advance for your generous contributions. I am looking forward to continuing to help make an impact both in and out of the pool.
Sincerely
Eric Shanteau
http://www.ericshanteau.netwww.facebook.com/profile.php
I remember Eric when he was just a 14-15 yr. old superstar in the Gwinnett County Summer League. I coached a summer league team for 4-years and had a few "year round studs" of my own, but Eric was always the man at county.
I remember Eric when he was just a 14-15 yr. old superstar in the Gwinnett County Summer League. I coached a summer league team for 4-years and had a few "year round studs" of my own, but Eric was always the man at county.
Who did he swim for? I swam with GCSL when I was younger.
Who did he swim for? I swam with GCSL when I was younger.
I forget which summer league team he was on (neighborhood team), I coached at Rivershyre and had a few of his Swim Atlanta Teammates on our team.
Year round though he swam for Swim Atlanta and Chris Davis.
I swam in the GCSL from like 78'-89' and my Dad was President one year
