The Great Britain Transplant cycling team have just returned from the 20th World Transplant Games held in Mar del Plata, Argentina between 23rd and 30th August 2015, with a massive haul of 17 medals including 8 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals from the 5k time trial and 20k road race events.
The bi-annual international competition is open to athletes who have had a life supporting organ transplant and this year the British team represented a comprehensive catalogue of heart, liver, kidney and bone marrow recipients.
The team of 12 riders is made up of 6 women, team captain Ottilie Quince (kidney), Mel Slaney (kidney), Di Higman (liver), Clare Bond (liver), Sue Tarling (liver) and Zoe Dixon (kidney) and 6 men Rich Smith (liver), Will Laughton(bone marrow), John Leveson (liver), Declan Logue (kidney), Mike Grisenthwaithe (bone marrow)and Joe Matthews (heart)
The bi-annual international competition is open to athletes who have had a life supporting organ transplant and this year the British team represented a comprehensive catalogue of heart, liver, kidney and bone marrow recipients.
The team of 12 riders is made up of 6 women, team captain Ottilie Quince (kidney), Mel Slaney (kidney), Di Higman (liver), Clare Bond (liver), Sue Tarling (liver) and Zoe Dixon (kidney) and 6 men Rich Smith (liver), Will Laughton(bone marrow), John Leveson (liver), Declan Logue (kidney), Mike Grisenthwaithe (bone marrow)and Joe Matthews (heart)
Three riders, team coach Richard Smith, team captain Ottilie Quince and Di Higman, won both the road race and time trial in their age categories with Smith (Wrekinsport CC) and Quince (Luton CC) repeating their double victories from the last world games in Sweden in 2011 and Durban, South Africa in 2013.
Team coach Rich Smith commented ‘the performance of all the riders was very impressive; we had 5 riders who were new to international competition so it’s gratifying to see the hard work they have put in over the last 2 years pay off. We put great store in the importance of the team competing domestically in time trials and on the road and track against none-transplanted riders to ensure we are sharp and, equally importantly, to raise awareness of the success of transplantation and the need for more people to join the organ donor register.
The team returns to international competition in 2016 in the European Transplant and Dialysis Games due to be held in Helsinki, Finland in June.
Team coach Rich Smith commented ‘the performance of all the riders was very impressive; we had 5 riders who were new to international competition so it’s gratifying to see the hard work they have put in over the last 2 years pay off. We put great store in the importance of the team competing domestically in time trials and on the road and track against none-transplanted riders to ensure we are sharp and, equally importantly, to raise awareness of the success of transplantation and the need for more people to join the organ donor register.
The team returns to international competition in 2016 in the European Transplant and Dialysis Games due to be held in Helsinki, Finland in June.
Notes for editors
10,000 people in the UK need a transplant.
1,000 (3 a day) of these die every year whilst waiting due to a lack of donor organs.
Almost 4,000 organ transplants are carried out in the UK each year.
Over 90% of people support the organ donor register but only 30% have joined it.
World Transplant Games Federation http://www.wtgf.org/default.asp
Follow us on Twitter at GBTxCyclists or Facebook at GB Transplant Cyclists
10,000 people in the UK need a transplant.
1,000 (3 a day) of these die every year whilst waiting due to a lack of donor organs.
Almost 4,000 organ transplants are carried out in the UK each year.
Over 90% of people support the organ donor register but only 30% have joined it.
World Transplant Games Federation http://www.wtgf.org/default.asp
Follow us on Twitter at GBTxCyclists or Facebook at GB Transplant Cyclists
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