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| Aaron Peirsol talks to a group about open water swimming. Retrieved from "Swim For Your Life" Official Facebook page. |
On Saturday, Oct. 8, Olympic swimmer and Trojan Swim Club member, Eric Shanteau hosted the second annual "Swim For Your Life" charity event at the Lake Lanier Island Resort near his hometown of Atlanta. The event was organized to benefit Lance Armstrong’s foundation, Livestrong, which is a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by cancer.
Saturday’s event featured a number of Olympic swimmers ranging from, Orange County's own and recently retired, backstroker Aaron Peirsol to Tunisian Olympian Ous Mellouli, who trains with Shanteau at USC. The event was kicked off by a one-kilometer open water race. Amanda Weir, 2004 Olympian, took top honors on the women’s side while the events host himself won on the men’s side. The event also included a five-kilometer open water race that was won by three-time Olympic medalist, Katie Hoff and All-American swimmer Robert Looney on their respective sides.
After the races, a number of Olympians including Kathleen Hersey and Mark Gangloff, hosted an open water swim clinic. It was later followed by a 500-yard junior swim. The 500-yard swim allowed children and parents in attendance to get an insight into open water swimming. After the event ended, Shanteau sent a message via Twitter, “Incredible event today!! Thanks to all the participants, volunteers, spectators and sponsors. huge success!! #Swim4Life.”
Shanteau credits the idea of “Swim For Your Life” to the Livestrong Challenge, which is a cycling race. “That was really the event that planted the seed in my head. It was like OK, let’s see what we can do with the swimming world,” Shanteau told USA Today.
A week before swimming at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials and making the Olympic team, Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Shanteau is now three years cancer-free and training in Los Angeles for next year’s Olympic trials.
Shanteau credits the idea of “Swim For Your Life” to the Livestrong Challenge, which is a cycling race. “That was really the event that planted the seed in my head. It was like OK, let’s see what we can do with the swimming world,” Shanteau told USA Today.
A week before swimming at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials and making the Olympic team, Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Shanteau is now three years cancer-free and training in Los Angeles for next year’s Olympic trials.
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