Team USA Olympian Announces Testicular Cancer Diagnosis
American swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian revealed Thursday that he’s been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The 30-year-old made the announcement on social media after visiting a doctor because “something didn’t seem quite right.”
“After a few tests and visits with a specialist, I unfortunately learned that I have Testicular Cancer,” Adrian wrote. “On the bright side, we caught it early, I have already started treatment and the prognosis is good. I will be back in the water in a few short weeks with my sights fully set on Tokyo!”
Adrian has won a total of eight Olympic medals, including golds at each of the last three Summer Games.
At the most recent Summer Olympics in Rio, he won golds in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley. He also won bronze medals in the 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
Five of Adrian’s Olympic medals have come alongside Michael Phelps on U.S. relay teams.
He has won another 16 medals at the World Championships.
In his post, Adrian urged other men to take their health seriously and to not put off potential warning signs.
“Along the way, I hope to share my journey in an effort to help break the stigma of discussing men’s health issues,” he said. “I’ve realized that too often we tend to avoid these important topics, ignore the potential warning signs, and put off getting the medical help that we may need.”
Adrian said he still has his sights set on the 2020 Games in Tokyo, and he has about a year-and-a-half before the Olympic trials begin. It’s unknown if he will be able to compete at the 2019 World Championships, which begin in July.
Adrian got married in September, and he thanked his wife, Hallie, and other family members for helping him in the cancer fight.
“I am extremely grateful for my family and friends, especially my wife, for their love and support,” he wrote. “I am scheduled for surgery early next week and will provide an update soon.”
Adrian’s 2008 and 2012 Olympics teammate, Eric Shanteau, went through a similar situation over a decade ago.
Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer a week before the 2008 Olympic trials. He chose to delay treatment and competed in the 2008 Games.
He set a personal best in the 200m breaststroke at those Games but did not medal. After undergoing surgery Shanteau returned for the 2012 Games, where he won a gold medal alongside Adrian in the 4x100m medley.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
