Swimmer Shanteau recovering from cancer

ATLANTA, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau set his sights set on next year's World Championships after having cancer surgery upon his return from Beijing.

Shanteau said he should be healed in time to make a push for the 2009 world competition in Rome. However, competing in the 2012 Olympics in London, he said, would be "a push for me."

Shanteau was recovering Tuesday after recent surgery at Emory University Hospital to remove a cancerous testicle that was discovered in June while he was in the middle of Olympic qualifications.

The 24-year-old decided not to give up his Olympic campaign and went on to compete in the breaststroke for the U.S. team.

Shanteau told CNN he didn't make his decision to go to China after serious consultations with doctors.

"I hope people understand that if I was in a different position with my test results, then I wouldn't have put off having surgery," he said.