My favourite Olympic sport has to be the men’s swimming. For obvious reasons.
But this year’s competition will be particularly poignant as one American competitor, 24-year-old Eric Shanteau, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Despite his doctor’s advice to be operated on as soon as possible, Shanteau is determined to make a splash at this year’s Games and be operated on as soon as he is finished.
There are certain people in Olympic history whose presence there heightens the entire experience, like Abebe Bikila running barefoot in 1960 or Cathy Freeman ploughing through the 400m finish line in 2000 before waving the Aboriginal flag above her head.
I have a feeling that Shanteau’s 200m breaststroke this year will be watched with the same feeling of excitement and anticipation – and I hope that his eventual treatment is a success.
We just have to see if Oscar Pistorius qualifies on July 16 and it could be one of the most memorable games ever.
