South African Rower Beats Cancer and Wins Team SA Third Rio 2016 Olympic Medal

We’re less than a week in, and Team South Africa just picked up its third medal of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Rowers Lawrence Brittain, 26, and Shaun Keeling, 29, took home silver in the men’s pair this afternoon with a time of 7:02.51, beating out the third-place Italian pair by just over two seconds. New Zealand came in first with a time of 6:59.71.

Brittain’s road to Rio was bumpy, albeit insanely inspiring, to say the least. In October 2014 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He’d been living with the condition for two years before undergoing six three-week cycles of chemotherapy. In February 2015, he completed his final chemo session. From then on, his focus was back to rowing.

March Camp to March Camp. What an epic year. Now for another one... pic.twitter.com/W9ac9x5Jcc

— Lawrence Brittain (@Brittain_L) March 17, 2016

To say Brittain’s kicked cancer in the ass is an understatement. Less than 18 months since his last dose of chemo, he’s an Olympic medalist.

Brittain and Keeling’s showing brings South Africa’s Olympic medal tally to three. Swimmer Cameron van der Burgh picked up SA’s first medal of Rio 2016 on Sunday when he placed second in the men’s 100m breaststroke. The following day, Chad Le Clos earned his third-career Olympic medal with a second-place finish in the men’s 200m freestyle.

South Africa's #Silver medal heroes! Well done, boys! #teamSArise #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/zm9O8CsSne

— Sport24News (@Sport24news) August 11, 2016

Well done #TeamSA Lawrence Brittain & Shaun Keeling just won a silver in the men's pairs rowing! #Rio2016 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/mzaqCAKX4o

— Brent Lindeque (@BrentLindeque) August 11, 2016

#Rio2016 SILVER! Lawrence Brittain & Shaun Keeling post-race: "It sunk in on the line what we achieved" pic.twitter.com/sIgSg2nQeJ

— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) August 11, 2016

#Rio2016 What a race from Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling! Quick out the blocks and powerful finish for silver. Magnificent!

— Marc Lewis (@MarcLewisZA) August 11, 2016

Lawrence Brittain has silver medal but he claims gold over hodgkins desease and lymph node cancer. INSPIRATIONAL #TeamSA @SPORTATSABC

— Udo Carelse (@udocarelsesa) August 11, 2016

Silver medal for SA in the Men's pairs rowing well done to Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling what a strong finish @SPORTATSABC ??

— Thomas Mlambo (@thomasmlambo) August 11, 2016

Amazing Lawrence Brittain & Shaun Keeling!!! What champions! #Silver #Rio2016 #rowing #RSA #teamSArise https://t.co/dWTuFfFh88

— Topbilling (@SABC3Topbilling) August 11, 2016

#Rowing - Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain took #SILVER for #RSA in Men's Pair. #Rio2016 #teamSArise pic.twitter.com/mQ88VcS0y1

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) August 11, 2016