U.S. Olympic Swimmer Shanteau to Race Despite Cancer Diagnosis

American swimmer Eric Shanteau, who successfully qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the 200-meter breaststroke competition, was diagnosed with testicular cancer a week before the Olympic swimming trials occurred, according to Reuters.

Luckily for the American swimmer, his doctors came to the conclusion that his form of cancer is in fact treatable and has not spread throughout his body as of yet, according to the Associated Press.

As a result, they are not considering his testicular cancer to be a health risk and have cleared him to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

However, Shanteau has announced that if doctors, who will be monitoring his situation very closely over the next month, inform him that there is any sign that the testicular cancer is spreading, he will remove himself from the Olympic team and undergo the required surgery.

Shanteau's determination to compete can be partially attributed to the fact that he came so close to qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics that were held in Athens. He finished in third-place in two separate events at the trials, which is just one spot out of the required placement in order to make the Olympic team.