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From SMH:
The man who can zip down a ski slope at more than 200kmh faces his most testing challenge after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
In news that has shocked the sporting community, six-time Paralympic gold-medallist Michael Milton, who lost a leg to bone cancer when he was nine, now faces another bout of the disease.
Milton had been training intensely for another Olympic sport, track cycling, for the past six months with the aim of competing at the Beijing Paralympics.
He and his wife, Penni, also recently celebrated the birth of his first child, a baby daughter.
"My first reaction on hearing I had cancer again was disappointment that I would not be able to achieve my goal of representing Australia in track cycling at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games," he said.
"However, I quickly realised there are a lot more important things in life than sport. My thoughts immediately turned to whether I will see the future birthdays of my 10-month-old daughter Matilda.
"I've beaten serious cancer once already so I am confident I can do it again.
"However, it also means I have a pretty good idea of how tough my life will be as I go through the treatment - but I'm up for the fight."
Milton said he was still undergoing tests and it was uncertain where he would start treatment.
"While I am still undergoing tests, I expect treatment to start next week," he said.
Milton competed in five winter Paralympic Games, winning 11 medals, including six gold. He is the fastest Australian skier ever and the world's fastest skier with a disability, having set a new record of 213.65kmh last year.
The man who can zip down a ski slope at more than 200kmh faces his most testing challenge after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
In news that has shocked the sporting community, six-time Paralympic gold-medallist Michael Milton, who lost a leg to bone cancer when he was nine, now faces another bout of the disease.
Milton had been training intensely for another Olympic sport, track cycling, for the past six months with the aim of competing at the Beijing Paralympics.
He and his wife, Penni, also recently celebrated the birth of his first child, a baby daughter.
"My first reaction on hearing I had cancer again was disappointment that I would not be able to achieve my goal of representing Australia in track cycling at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games," he said.
"However, I quickly realised there are a lot more important things in life than sport. My thoughts immediately turned to whether I will see the future birthdays of my 10-month-old daughter Matilda.
"I've beaten serious cancer once already so I am confident I can do it again.
"However, it also means I have a pretty good idea of how tough my life will be as I go through the treatment - but I'm up for the fight."
Milton said he was still undergoing tests and it was uncertain where he would start treatment.
"While I am still undergoing tests, I expect treatment to start next week," he said.
Milton competed in five winter Paralympic Games, winning 11 medals, including six gold. He is the fastest Australian skier ever and the world's fastest skier with a disability, having set a new record of 213.65kmh last year.
