Shanteau ready to "kick hell out of" cancer

BEIJING (Reuters) - Competing at the Beijing Olympics was worth delaying surgery for cancer and now he was going to "kick the hell out of it," American breaststroker Eric Shanteau said on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old American, diagnosed with testicular cancer in June, a week before competing in the Olympic trials, failed to make the final of the 200 meters breaststroke, finishing sixth in his semi-final and 10th overall at the Water Cube.

"It was a best time, obviously frustrating I'm not going to be in there in the final. I wanted to get in and go for a medal," said Shanteau. "I'm not going to let it weigh me down too much because I've got a much bigger battle coming up. It's tough on me I don't get the chance for that medal."

Shanteau sealed his place in the 200 breaststroke at the expense of 2005 world champion Brendan Hansen, who finished fourth in the final at the trials in Omaha, Nebraska.

"No regrets, I made a decision, stuck with it. It was my decision, nobody else's and I'm happy I made it," Shanteau said.

"Now, I've got a much bigger battle to win and I know I'm going to win that one."

Next for Shanteau is a holiday.

"Take a vacation, relax, go to Austin, then I'll head to Atlanta and get this crap (cancer) out of me.

"It's worse for the cancer because I can put all my energy towards getting rid of that.

"Now that thing stands no chance, it's going to get out of me, I'm going to beat it and attack it the same way I did my swimming, so I'll kick the hell out of it."

(Additional reporting by Derek Parr)

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)