Olympic champ takes on ‘silent killer’

She conquered the balance beam, and beat the best competitors in the world. Now, gymnastics great Shannon Miller is defeating a ‘silent killer’, ovarian cancer.

Miller was in Seattle recently to promote the Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championship. The competition will be held March 16-18 at Comcast Arena in Everett. Athletes from 14 nations including Russia and China are coming.

Shannon Miller was the most successful U.S. athlete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, earning five medals. Then, she struck Olympic gymnastics gold in 1996 as part of the “Magnificent Seven”.

The 34-year-old married mother of a 2-year-old son launched a health and wellness business for women in 2010. The primary focus was diet and exercise during pregnancy, and fitness for new moms.

The emphasis shifted dramatically in February 2011, when doctors found, and removed a baseball-sized cyst on Miller’s ovary. It turned out to be a germ cell malignancy.

“For me to be so open about my issue and to scream from the rooftops to get your screenings is important and rewarding,” Miller told me. “Early detection saves lives, and that’s become a mantra for me.”

Shannon underwent nine weeks of chemotherapy with some of her famous Olympic gymnast teammates on hand for support. Her fitness routine kept Miller strong through treatments.

She did however lose what she called her “frizzy hair in scrunchy look. Miller wore a wig during our conversation, and displayed plenty of energy about her cause.

“Once you embrace you baldness as a symbol of health you can accept it. It means I am doing this for my family so I can be here. Looking at my son every morning makes it easy to say, I will do whatever it takes to be here for you.”

Shannon is currently a host for Health and Wellness television’s Wish List. “I get to travel the country granting wishes of children and young adults who are facing life-threatening medical issues. It’s very inspiring.”

Miller also remains passionate about the United States gymnastics program, and will be covering the London Olympics for NBC.

“Our womens team is wide open and it’s going to be fierce competition,”predicted Shannon. “There are only 5 spots, which is down from 6 in 2008. We have the number one athlete in the world right now in Jordyn Wieber.”

Miller believes America’s gymnastics program has benefited by bringing the top athletes together more often for international competition, like the Pacific Rim Championships.

“This is an Olympic springboard. It might not be a specific qualification, but all of these competitions are important because the selection committee is looking to see who is prepared for London.”