AUSTIN, Texas, September 15. WE just wanted to take a moment to send a quick congrats to Olympic gold medalist Eric Shanteau. Today, he tweeted out that he has officially been cancer free for five years, stating that his remission is now official.
A day I have been waiting a long time for, remission is official, 5 years cancer free!— Eric Shanteau (@Shanteau) September 15, 2013
In 2008, shortly after making the Olympic squad in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke, Shanteau explained that he had done so while dealing with testicular cancer. He wound up just missing finals in the event. Four years later, he qualified for the Olympics again in the 100-meter breaststroke, and helped the U.S. to Olympic gold in the 400 medley relay as a prelim swimmer.
Since Shanteau’s diagnosis, he has become a hard core cancer fighter in every sense of the word, working with cancer charities throughout the country. He created Eric Shanteau’s Swim For Your Life, and open water swim dedicated to raise funds for cancer research. Since its beginning in 2010, the swim has continued to grow with world-class swimmers heading to Atlanta in droves to swim at Lake Lanier Islands to support Shanteau.
It is crazy to think that it has been five years since one of the most dramatic U.S. Olympic Training Camps in the history of our sport. Not only did Shanteau reveal that he made the team with testicular cancer, it was also the summer that Jessica Hardy tested positive for clebuterol, Dara Torres’ coach Michael Lohberg was diagnosed with aplastic anemia which claimed his life three years later, as well as the media whirlwind following Michael Phelps everywhere he went as he took the last steps towards an epic meet in which he would win eight Olympic gold medals.