Olympian Eric Shanteau Opens Up On Cancer Diagnosis

Qualifying for the Olympics is a wonderful moment for any athlete who has put in the time and effort, year after year, to be the best they can be.

Just ask 24-year-old Eric Shanteau, who will be heading to Beijing to compete for the U.S. in the 200 meter breaststroke.

But what makes Eric’s story even more remarkable is that just a week before he qualified for the 2008 summer games, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“Imagine going from the lowest point that you can hit with getting the news of being diagnosed with cancer the week before trials, and then going all the way to the biggest high you can get and getting on the Olympic team,” Eric told Access Hollywood.

As it turns out, when Eric earned his first trip to the Olympic games, few people knew he had been diagnosed with cancer.

“There were a lot of times at points where I wanted to say something and I felt like I needed to, but it just wasn’t the right time for everyone in general and everyone that was around me,” Eric explained.

But the native of Snellville, Georgia, finally found the right time at one of the first USA swimming team meetings.

“When you get up in front of a group of your peers like that, an Olympic team like that, that was pretty difficult to do,” he admitted to Access.

Upon revealing his diagnosis, Eric’s cancer immediately became THE story in U.S. swimming – even outshadowing teammate Michael Phelps’ record run for eight gold medals and 41-year-old Dara Torres’ remarkable comeback.

And as he prepares to take the world stage in a few weeks in Beijing, Eric and his doctors are keeping a close eye on his health.

“I am in touch with several doctors around the country and they’re getting my test results back and I’m keeping in touch with them as things come up,” Eric noted.

Because his cancer has not spread – and when detected early, testicular cancer has a 95 percent survival rate – Eric is holding off on treatment until after he returns from Beijing.

“If something changes, if an abnormality or something like that comes up, I definitely have to reevaluate my situation here and make my health a priority,” Eric concluded.

For more on Eric and the rest of the Olympic team, check out NBCOlympics.com.