Imagine training your entire life to compete in the Olympics, and a week before the world's biggest competition, you find out you have cancer. It happened to U.S. swimmer Eric Shanteau, who was diagnosed before the trials:"With the diagnosis, it made me step back and realize this is a big deal. There are very few people in the world who get to experience this. Making the team has always been my goal, everything else is just a bonus.

"I was really upset and angry when I was diagnosed, but I had a choice--it could either hurt me or help me, and I made sure it helped me. I can choose to let it control my life or I can choose not to. And I am choosing to live the way I want to and do the things I want to do." Rather than deciding to have surgery immediately, Shanteau decided to wait until after the games, despite the risk. Eric's dad, Rick, is currently struggling with lung cancer himself and he told him to look at cancer one of two ways: "You have the cancer or the cancer has you." Shanteau did not make it to the medal stand, but he is on the podium representing the cancer community and helping others fight the disease as he is. He returns to the U.S. on August 20, and will have surgery in Atlanta, Ga.