Five Dublin athletes, all of whom have had transplants, have returned home from a major world games in Thailand, where they were part of an Irish team that won a record breaking 39 medals.
The Dublin members of the Irish team that travelled to the World Transplant Games in Bangkok were Deirdre Faul, Terry Mangan, Paul Prendergast, Angela Sherlock and Peter Morgan.
Deirdre Faul from Dalkey was the Irish team captain for the games and she won six medals, three gold and three bronze.
“I am delighted with the team’s success which will hopefully demonstrate to other transplant recipients that people can lead full and healthy lives after a transplant whilst being eternally grateful to their donors for giving them a second chance of life,” she said.
The athletes from Dublin also included 70 year-old Templeogue man Terry Mangan, the oldest member of the Irish contingent, Peter Morgan from Donnybrook, Lucan lady Angela Sherlock and Paul Prendergast from Santry.
Angela Sherlock also added to the haul of medals with a gold, silver and bronze medal in shot putt, bowling and badminton respectively.
This has been Ireland’s best ever performance at the World Transplant Games, which ran from Saturday, August 24th until Sunday, September 2nd, and their impressive haul amounted to nine gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze medals.
Never before has an Irish team broken the 30 medal mark but this year they can be proud of their record breaking tally achieved in what is said to be the most competitive World Transplant Games to date and which saw Ireland being placed 10th overall on the medals table.
The Irish team consisted of ten women and 13 men and range in age from 20 to 70.
“The warm hospitality received throughout our time in Thailand was unforgettable and we thoroughly enjoyed building new friendships and the comradeship experienced with transplant recipients from all over the world,” added Deirdre.
Team manager, Colin White outlined his additional delight with the announcement last week, while at the World Transplant Games, that Ireland has won its bid to host the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in August 2010.
“It is a major coup for Ireland and hopefully, through Ireland’s hosting of such important Games events together with our team’s exceptional performance at the World Transplant Games more people will make the decision to carry an organ donor card which should ultimately result in more lives being saved through transplantation,” he said.
The European Games, also biennial, are expected to involve at least 21 countries from across Europe with a participation of over 450 athletes who have received organ transplants as well as those who are receiving dialysis treatment.
The Irish team’s involvement at the Games is co-ordinated by the Irish Kidney Association. At this year’s World Transplant Games the athletes competed in golf, tennis, track and field, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, badminton, squash, swimming as well as petanque, which is a variation on the French game of boules.
Listen to Dublin athlete Angela Sherlock speaking about her narrow gold medal win
For more information on the World Games and the Irish team’s performance visit www.transplantteamireland.com.
For an organ donor card free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or log on to www.ika.ie for more information.