Transplant athlete: Experience “unreal”
Dublin Airport was the scene of great joy last Saturday as 38 members of Transplant Team Ireland returned home with 50 medals from this year’s World Transplant Games in Newcastle, Gateshead, UK.
The Irish squad amassed 17 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals, reaching 11th place on the leaderboard out of 56 countries.
A Cavan man was among the returning Irish athletes. Aodhagan Cullen from Mullahoran underwent a double transplant, kidney and pancreas, in November 2017 at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin.
This year he competing in four events; tennis, javelin, ball throwing and ten pin bowling in the WTG.
“It went very well,” Aodhagan said on his return from the UK. The Mullahoran man faced stiff competition in all categories, and although he did not medal he was happy with his participation.
“The experience was unreal. There was a great reception in Dublin Airport on our return. Even the way all the teams were greeted in Newcastle was serious,” he told the Celt.
This competition has whetted his appetite to wear the green jersey again: “It was a great chance to get the experience and to know what it consists of. The competition was quite intense. The first person I played against in tennis was a former junior world champion before he got ill and had to have his transplant.
“My plan is now to take a bit a of a break and then get back into training in about two weeks. I hope to take part in the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships that are held in Dublin in august 2020,” Aodhagan said.
Aodhagan said that there were a number of people who supported him in his journey to Newcastle: “I would like to give a massive thanks to CG Power Systems Ireland, (Cavan) who have worked with me through my illness over the last seven years and through my recovery after the transplant in 2017. I also have to gives a big thanks to sponsors Sheirdans Pub in Kilcogy, Sports Shop Cavan, Nano Plant & Agri Limited, Mega Bowl Longford, Gary Reilly in The Hideaway Bar and The Mullahoran Annual Sponsored Walk committee.”
Transplant Team Ireland includes 38 athletes who have each undergone transplants including bone marrow (1), heart (1), liver (4), lung (1) and kidney (31). The team of 29 men and nine women returned home to Dublin last Saturday [August 24].
“Aodhan Cullen had a wonderful games experience,” Gwen O'Donoghue said on behalf of the Irish Kidney Association.
At the World Transplant Games athletes compete in their respective age categories in the following events: petanque, badminton, cycling, darts, golf, squash, swimming, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis, mini-marathon, and track and field.