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U.S OLYMPIC SWIMMER ERIC SHANTEAU HOSTS “SWIM FOR YOUR LIFE” EVENT BENEFITING LIVESTRONG
US Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau will host his second “Swim For Your Life” event October 8th at the Lake Lanier Island Resort near Atlanta, Georgia. Proceeds from the open water event benefit LIVESTRONG, the brand name of the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s charity which provides support for people affected by cancer.
An Atlanta native, Shanteau himself is a cancer survivor, diagnosed just days before the Olympic trials in 2008. Even with this burden Shanteau qualified and competed in the ’08 Beijing games posting a personal best time in the 200m breaststroke. Eric designed the “Swim For Your Life” event because it combines his two passions swimming and cancer awareness.
The event starts Saturday morning with a 1 mile and 5K open water race followed by an award ceremony. The afternoon will feature an open water swim clinic hosted by Eric Shanteau and fellow Olympic swimmers Aaron Peirsol, Tyler McGill, Mark Gangloff, Amanda Weir, Katie Hoff, Kathleen Hersey and Ous Mellouli. After the morning races, Olympians will have an autograph and photo session with the participants. Following the clinic there will be a 500 yard junior swim in which children 12 and under along with their parents will get an introduction to open water swimming. Events throughout the day will be MC’d by famous swimming broadcaster Rowdy Gaines.
Eric Shanteau’s sponsors Arena, Mutual of Omaha, USA Swimming and Direct Technologies have all joined on to sponsor “Swim For Your Life.” The event is for a great cause and it will also be a wonderful opportunity for swimmers to learn from Olympic greats.
Visit www.ShanteauOpenWater.com to register for the event. Olympians will be on hand all day to teach, dine, and race with participants as all are invited to join together to “Swim For Your Life.”
About Eric Shanteau
On his way to the 2008 Olympics, Eric rode a rollercoaster that included being diagnosed with testicular cancer, swimming the fastest 50m breaststroke split in the history of the 200 IM, and having his father diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite the turmoil, Eric made the 2008 US Olympic Team in the 200m Breaststroke and after the competition returned home to receive treatment. Now cancer free, Eric continues to train and improve daily on his way to the 2012 Olympics and has also become involved in Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG foundation. He recently appeared on the cover of LIVESTRONG Quarterly alongside Armstrong, and participates in cancer related charity work as often as he can.
Contact: Jenny Scholl
Tel: 919-459-5436
Email: jenny@pmgsports.com
Website: www.ShanteauOpenWater.com