Tipperary’s Andrew Duncan
The 19th World Transplant Games ended yesterday in Durban, South Africa with the 24-strong Irish team of transplant recipients winning 34 medals in the world’s only games dedicated to people who have undergone organ transplants.
The Irish team, ranging in ages from 12 to 68 years, competed against some 1,000 athletes from 50 countries in events such as golf, swimming, tennis and athletics and were placed 14th overall on the medals table, scooping 12 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze.
Within the team, the largest medal haul went to 15-year-old Tipperary native Andrew Duncan, pictured left. Andrew, a 4th year college student at Rockwell College, Cashel, Co Tipperary, is a member of Hillview Sports Club in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Andrew obtained a kidney transplant in the Spring of 2012 and competed in the 15-17 years age category at the games in the following events; Badminton Singles, Squash, Table Tennis Singles and Tennis Singles, where he scooped four medals, comprising two gold, one silver and one bronze in his chosen events.
The Games are open to accomplished athletes and amateur sports people, with the next Games taking place in Argentina in 2015.
The first man to ever receive a liver transplant in Ireland, Mr Tony Gartland of Hacketstown in Co Carlow, won four medals in racing events.
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