A SUMMER OF SPORT
THE BRITISH AND WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES 2009
The British 4x400m Relay Team (centre)
My summer of
Transplant Games started off well with the British Games in
Finally the
time had come, hoping all the training would pay off, I flew to Australia to
take part in the XVII World Transplant Games, 22nd –
30th August on the Queensland Gold Coast. The World Games
are our Transplant Olympics and the biggest international celebration of the
gift of life that there is. It is a unique opportunity to share in giving
thanks to all donor families, to demonstrate the healthy and active lifestyle
that can be achieved after organ transplantation and to raise the profile of
organ donation.
Over 1000
athletes from fifty countries competed in 6 age categories and 14 different
sports, including cycling, swimming, track and field, racquets, golf, rowing, volleyball
and even beach volleyball! We compete for medals but the whole experience is a
celebration and is about fun, friendship, great camaraderie between teams and
living life to the full! This was my fourth World Games and it was great to
catch up with friends from all over the world, meet new one’s and soak up the
wonderful atmosphere that is the World Transplant Games.
The Aussies
welcomed us with great enthusiasm and so did their weather, which was
unseasonably warmer than even they expected at nearer 30 degrees than the 23 –
24 predicted. They say that
It was Sun 23rd
and the first day of competition had finally arrived and the opening event and
my first, the 3K run on a road just in from the beach. I was up at 5.30 a.m.
(this would be a regular thing as events either started early or required
transport up or down the coast to get to!). I had entered this event to get the
nerves out of the way early so didn’t have high expectations but it’s a great
event to be part of. After registering at 6.30, the women’s race set off an
hour later. I came in fourth in my age group, I was pleased as I had beaten my
time just 3 weeks earlier, then the news came through that the UK had won Silver
in the team event, so that was a bonus! The team event is the cumulative time
of the first 3 runners from your country no matter what age group; fortunately
we had 3 in the race!
At the same
time as the road races were on, there was a
After all the
excitement of the first competition day I was happy to have a day off and
support some of my team mates at the Volleyball. Oh and we managed to rub in
the fact we won the Ashes that day! The 5K cycling time trial was next up on
Tuesday. This was held at a cycle circuit out of town and was a fast course on
one side and a killer with a steep incline and bridge on the other! Across all
the cycling age groups, male and female, there were 112 riders, double that of
two years ago and so a great spectacle to be a part of and we had terrific
support.
I was first off
in my age group but about half way down the full list of riders. Soon it was my
turn, time to focus, countdown, five, four, three, two, one and I was off! As I set off all other thoughts went out of
my head, I was just trying to go as fast as I could for the four laps, using
every drop of energy and then some, to ride the course as fast as possible
right to the line and then wait to see how I had done against the other times. It
was Silver, I was ecstatic; I had done my very best, had a great ride and had
won a medal! Tracy, a fantastic triathlete from the USA took Gold and Denise,
also from USA, took Bronze, so I managed to split them at least! I was
delighted, it had been a thrilling ride and I was now well into the Games. The
whole morning was amazing, we all said that the level of ability and
competition was the best we had seen at any WTG we had been to. This was to
prove the case across all events. In the evening we were treated to a fabulous
dolphin display at Sea World and delicious buffet dinner, with food from all
over the world laid on.
The following
day we were to take on the 20K road race out in the heart of sugar cane
country, fortunately the road access was closed for the one lap circuit as you
should see the giant trucks that tear along carrying the cut cane! The start
was outside a school and all the kids came out to watch as we warmed up and the
first groups set off. Tracy and I pulled
away from the other girls from the start, I was determined to stay with her, however I then lost her back wheel about halfway as we
overtook some other riders, men no less! So I knew I was riding for Silver but
kept going as hard as I could as I also knew Denise and others were behind, I
just didn’t know how far! I came in for Silver and then Denise took Bronze. It
had been a fabulous ride. The school prefects had been giving out medals but
when they had to go back into lessons, the local police were asked to give out
the rest; they had been managing the road closure. I wasn’t complaining when a
tall, dark and handsome policeman presented me with my medal!
Fortunately I
had the next day off before the athletics started on Friday, so I went to
support the swimmers, watching all the finals was very exciting. As I was
ladies athletics captain I needed to be at the track for the very start of the
day’s schedule on Friday at 8.00 a.m. It was great watching all the events but
my 100m wasn’t until 2.00 p.m. so I had to make sure I kept cool, hydrated and
timed the warm up right. When the gun went off a Hungarian took the lead so I
was trying to catch her whilst aware that a girl from
Again the 200m
was in the afternoon and the lanes were full and I flew round, like a lion was
chasing me! There was lots of cheering
and someone told me afterwards that the team coach watching had said “now
that’s determination!”. I’d done it,
I had taken Gold 
(pictured)
in the fastest time I have run this year. Denise (you remember the
cyclist!) took Silver and the Finn, Iija, won Bronze. I didn’t have much time for
celebration as the 4x400m relay was twenty minutes later and I was to lead us
off. I went for a quick rub down from our team physio, Alison, she is an
absolute star! I set off with the baton on the inside lane, the main
competition coming from
My events were
over and I had such a great feeling of achievement and had made some great new
friends along the way. The closing ceremony then took place at the track and it
is an amazing feeling to look around and think that all these athletes have
transplants, it was an incredible atmosphere. We all deserved a good party
which was catered for by a spectacular Gala dinner with a party and dancing
until the early hours of Sunday morning, my legs
didn’t care by that point!
It’s been quite
a year, I have had the 10th Anniversary of
my kidney transplant, wonderful success at the Games and the amazing honour of
being awarded an MBE for awareness of organ donation through sport. The
benefits of transplantation are clear and just to be able to do all this is
amazing. I’m looking forward to next year’s British Games to be held in
I would like to
thank everyone at Blackpool Wyre and
Fylde AC for all your support and especially Derek 
(pictured)
who selflessly gives up so much of his time coaching on the track. Also all
the training group, I couldn’t have done this without you, thank you so much.
Zoë Dixon MBE
If you would
like to register on the NHS Organ Donor Register phone the Donor line on
0300
123 23 23 or visit www.uktransplant.org.uk,
to register on-line. Even if you currently carry a donor card, registering is
important and remember to let your family know your wishes.