Eric Shanteau, a cancer survivor, supports the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

By the time Eric Shanteau first put on a Cub Scout uniform, he had already been swimming for five years.

As he got older, Shanteau, who learned to swim at age 3, found a way to keep both of these parallel lives afloat.

He balanced a successful Scouting career that culminated in the Eagle Scout award (in 1999) with an elite swimming career that has led him to spots on the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming team.

On top of all that, Shanteau is a cancer survivor. A week before the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thankfully, he’s now in remission and works with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to promote cancer awareness.

Before Shanteau left for London to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke and 4×100-meter medley relay (details below), I chatted with him by phone.

In our conversation, Shanteau reveals how he balanced Scouting and swimming; shares tips for Scouts getting over a fear of swimming, especially in lakes; explains how to encourage Scouts to get across the finish line and earn Eagle; and more.  Continue reading »

Merrill Moses equates the silver medal he won at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to earning the rank of Life in Boy Scouts.

Both are great achievements, but each is still a step away from the top.

Moses earned Eagle in the mid-90′s, and now, the 34-year-old Team USA water polo goalkeeper has his gaze squarely fixed on another top prize: Olympic gold.

At the London Olympics, Moses and Team USA are 2-0 in opening-round games after Tuesday’s 10-8 win against Romania. The Americans have three more first-round games (viewing info below) before beginning the single-elimination matches that will determine medalists.

But before Moses left for London, I talked with him by phone about his time in Scouting and how it helped prepare him for a successful water polo career.

Here are some highlights from our conversation: Continue reading »

UPDATE (8:10 a.m., Aug. 1): Grant and Ross raced for Team USA this morning. See the results (spoiler!) or watch the video (start at 2:57:18).

You’d expect twins to have a lot in common. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair who share a resume as impressive as Grant and Ross James.

The twins are Eagle Scouts, national champions in high-power rifle shooting, and world-class rowers.

On Wednesday (Aug. 1) the pair will look to add one more line to their list of successes: Olympic gold medalists. They’re two members of Team USA’s eight-man rowing crew, which will be gold-medal favorites in Wednesday’s final. (See below for viewing info).

But before they left for London, Grant and Ross — who earned Eagle in 2003 in Dekalb, Ill. — talked with me by phone. Here are some highlights from our conversation:  Continue reading »