Olympic Swimmer & Cancer Survivor; Two-Time U.S. Olympian; World Champion; Health Advocate
Eric Shanteau Biography
Eric Shanteau is a two-time Olympic swimmer, world champion, and cancer survivor whose story of perseverance has positioned him as a prominent voice in sports and health advocacy. Shanteau attended Auburn University, where he was an 11-time All-American for the Auburn Tigers swimming and diving team. At the World University Games, he won a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley and later secured gold in both the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley, becoming the first American to sweep both events. He entered the national swimming scene at age 16 by competing at the Olympic Trials and, upon graduating from Parkview High School, became the first male in the history of the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Program to graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average and win a national title.
Shanteau's path to the Beijing Olympics was marked by significant challenges. Diagnosed with testicular cancer just weeks before the Olympic Trials, Shanteau finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke, securing his spot on the U.S. Olympic team. He chose to delay treatment to compete in the Olympics, undergoing weekly tests to monitor his health. Shanteau swam a personal best in the 200-meter breaststroke but narrowly missed the finals. Shortly after the Olympics, he underwent surgery for Stage 1 cancer, which required minimal treatment, and subsequent tests confirmed he was cancer-free.
Following his recovery, Shanteau returned to elite competition. At the World Championships in Rome, he broke the American record in both the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, becoming the only American to break 59 seconds in the 100 and 2 minutes 8 seconds in the 200. He was a member of both the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams and earned a gold medal as part of the winning U.S. team in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the London Olympics. Shanteau was recognized with USA Swimming's Golden Goggle Perseverance Award and faced a recurrence of cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and additional surgery.
Beyond competitive swimming, Shanteau has used his experiences to advocate for cancer awareness. He has served as a spokesman for testicular cancer awareness, working with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and speaking to groups nationwide about health issues. As a LIVESTRONG envoy, he advocates for cancer awareness among young adults through the Young Leaders Cancer Council and delivers motivational speeches to swimmers, students, business professionals, and fundraisers. He founded the Swim for Your Life Challenge to raise cancer awareness within the swimming community, with participants and supporters raising significant funds for programs and services at LIVESTRONG. Shanteau has also served as a guest speaker at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Lobby Day conference in Washington, D.C.
His keynote program, "Keeping My Head Above Water: Resilience in the Face of Adversity," explores the journey from a cancer diagnosis to Olympic achievement, focusing on perseverance in the face of adversity. By sharing his experiences openly, Shanteau continues to promote health awareness and inspire audiences in the sports and health advocacy communities.
Eric Shanteau Speaking Topics
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Keeping My Head Above Water: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Eric Shanteau's cancer diagnosis was one of the biggest stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Shanteau takes his audience on a journey from the harsh reality of a cancer diagnosis all the way back to an Olympic gold medal. The ability to persevere under any circumstance is a quality Shanteau has had the opportunity to test time and again. In this presentation Shanteau will demonstrate the power of a positive mind set and attitude in his ability to always find the silver lining.
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From the Summer League to the Summer Games: Achieving the Top 1%
Eric Shanteau's journey from neighborhood swim meets to a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics is nothing short of astounding. Shanteau shows audiences how to work smarter and what it takes to not only improve, but how to become the best of the best. A cancer survivor who went on to become one of the best swimmers in the world, Shanteau reveals his methods as he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
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What are the speaker fees for Eric Shanteau
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What topics does Eric Shanteau speak about?
Eric Shanteau is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Cancer, Cancer Survivors, Christian, Christian, Christian Athletes, Health & Wellness, Inspirational, Motivational, Olympic Athlete, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Sports, Sports Motivation, Swimming & Diving -
Where does Eric Shanteau travel from?
Eric Shanteau generally travels from Austin, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Eric Shanteau’s agent?
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Eric Shanteau is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Keeping My Head Above Water: Resilience in the Face of Adversity and From the Summer League to the Summer Games: Achieving the Top 1%. The estimated speaking fee range to book Eric Shanteau for your event is available upon request. Eric Shanteau generally travels from Austin, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Register, Vince Poscente, Jason Lezak and Scott Hamilton. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Eric Shanteau for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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