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| Eric Shanteau |
Swimmer Eric Shanteau was flying high earlier this month when he became a first-time Olympic athlete. Shanteau became one of the surprise Beijing 2008 team members when he beat out the hands-down favorite Brendan Hanson (a former world record holder) in the 200 meter breaststroke to make the squad.
The whole time, however, Shanteau was swimming knowing that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The 24-year-old Shanteau, an all-around U.S. Team leader and favorite, revealed in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press that he had been diagnosed with cancer just one week before heading to Omaha, Neb., and the Qwest Center for the trials.
The doctors cleared Shanteau to swim in the trials, but they have said he should have surgery now. Shanteua, who hails from Lilburn, GA, and swims with Longhorn Aquatics, has decided to postpone the surgery until after the Beijing Games in order to fulfill his Olympic dreams. However, Shanteau has vowed to withdraw if doctors monitoring his condition indicate the cancer is spreading.
In addition to his second place finish in the 200 breast, Shanteau took third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 breast while in Omaha.
