Overcoming Adversity: Eric fights both for his health and for his Olympic dream.
Program Titles
- Eric fights both for his health and for his Olympic dream
- Eric, an Olympic veteran brought home a Gold medal in the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
- Eric helps lead efforts cancer advocacy group, he has fought hard to beat the odds, increase awareness & encourage others.
Eric Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Eric qualified for the Olympic Team. After another torturous round of testing and weighing his options and risks, he continued his dream of competing in the Olympics.
Through it all, the one thing that was not difficult for Eric was his decision to go public with his illness.
The tremendous amount of support he received from his friends, family, strangers, and other cancer survivors gave Eric the courage he needed to fight both for his health and for his Olympic dream.
Eric shares his story on the importance of overcoming obstacles to reach your goals.
Eric has ridden a roller coaster that included being diagnosed with testicular cancer, swimming the fastest 50m breaststroke split in the history of the 200 IM, and having his father diagnosed with lung cancer.
Eric made the US Olympic Team in the 200m Breaststroke despite the turmoil.
The 11-time NCAA All-American became the first American to win the 200 and 400 IM events at the World University Games following a disheartening finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials, where he placed third and narrowly missed his first Olympic Team.
Eric was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Still, in pursuit of the dream he’d been working toward his whole life, Eric consulted several doctors, and after a series of medical tests with one week to go before Trials, he was cleared to swim.
In a bittersweet victory, Eric qualified for the Olympic Team. After another torturous round of testing and weighing his options against the risks, he chose to continue on with his dream of competing in the Olympics and is now training to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Through it all, the one thing that was not difficult for Eric was his decision to go public with his illness. The tremendous amount of support he received from his friends, family, strangers, and other cancer survivors gave Eric the courage he needed to fight both for his health and for his Olympic dream.
U.S. National Champion 200m Breaststroke
Pan Pacs Bronze Medalist: 200m Breaststroke
World Championships (4th 100m Breaststroke, 2nd 200m Breaststroke, 3rd 200m individual medley, 1st 4×100 medley relay)
Olympian
Eleven-time All-American
World University Games Double Gold Medalist (200 IM, 400 IM)
US National Champion
U.S. National Championship: Silver Medalist – 200m Breaststroke & 200m IM, Bronze Medalist – 100m Breaststroke & 400m IM
American Record Holder in 100 and 200 Breaststroke and
World Record Holder in 4×100 Medley Relay
Book Eric Shanteau for your Event!