12 Facts About Eric Shanteau

Eric Lee Shanteau was born on October 1,1983 and is an American former competition swimmer who won two gold medals as a member of winning United States relay teams at the World Championships.

Eric Shanteau attended Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, where he became a national swimming champion while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

At the 2003 World University Games, Eric Shanteau won the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley.

At the 2005 World University Games, Shanteau won gold in both the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley, making him the first American to sweep both events.

At the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California, Eric Shanteau placed third in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley events, just missing a place on the Olympic roster in both events.

On July 3,2008, Eric Shanteau placed second in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2008 US Olympic Swimming Trials, guaranteeing himself a spot on the team set to compete in Beijing, China.

The week before, Eric Shanteau was informed that he had testicular cancer, but chose to compete in the meet regardless.

Eric Shanteau competed in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where, despite missing the finals by thirteen one-hundredths of a second, he posted a personal best time.

Eric Shanteau is in remission and active in cancer awareness.

At the 2009 US National Championships and World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eric Shanteau placed second to Mark Gangloff in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 59.45.

At the World Championships in Rome, Eric Shanteau placed second in the 200-meter breaststroke, third in the 200-meter individual medley, and fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke.

At the 2012 US Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, the qualifying event for the US Olympic team, Eric Shanteau made the US Olympic team by finishing second in the 100-meter breaststroke.