Eric Shanteau

Eric on being race-ready

“Enjoy racing and embrace pressure situations. Don’t be intimidated by your competition or surroundings. You train long and hard and should have the mental toughness to race confidently.”


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Eric Shanteau has a string of “firsts” behind him including being the first male in the history of USA Swimming Scholastic All-American program to have a 4.0 GPA and a National Title. He’s also the first American ever to sweep the individual medley events at 2005 World University Games, setting a new Universiade record in the 200m IM.

At the 2008 Olympic Trials, Eric made Team USA for his first time by finishing second in the 200m breaststroke. He wasn’t sure, however, he could go to China.

“Olympic Trials is one of, if not the, most stressful, pressure-packed meets in the world – and that is without a recent cancer diagnosis,” said Eric. “I wanted my diagnosis to be as little of a distraction as possible, so I chose to keep it quiet at Trials.”

Armed with all the information possible about his health status, Eric felt good about his educated decision to compete in the 2008 Games and begin treatment afterwards.

Now cancer free, Eric earned gold in the 2012 Olympics and is devoted to his Swim For Your Life program.

Watch Eric’s aha moments:

Vitals

  • Birthday: October 1, 1983
  • Hometown: Lilburn, Georgia

Sweet Achievement:

“Breaking my first American record during a prelim swim”

Winning Record

  • Olympics
    2012 – Gold, 400m medley relay (P) 3:32.65
  • World Championships
    2011 – Gold, 400m medley relay
    2009 – Gold, 400m medley relay (WR); Bronze, 200m individual medley; Silver, 200m breaststroke
  • Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships
    2010 Bronze, 200m breaststroke
  • U.S. Nationals
    2010 – Gold, 200m breaststroke; Bronze, 100m breaststroke
    2009 – Gold, 200m breaststroke; Silver, 100m breaststroke; Silver, 200m individual medley

Race Clip