Kelly Young wins multiple medals at World Transplant Games

In 120 transplanted athletes returned victorious from Australia after competing in the 2023 World Transplant Games for Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

One of those athletes was swimming teacher at Everyone Active Stratford Park, Kelly Young, aged 29, who competed in swimming and won medals in all her races, taking home two golds and five silvers. 

After winning a total of 288 medals, Team GB & NI finished at the top of the medal table, with Australia coming second and Thailand taking third position.  

The World Transplant Games took place in Perth from 15-22 April and saw over 2,500 transplant recipients, live donors, donor families and supporters travel to Australia from all over the world to compete, support and most importantly raise awareness of the lifesaving benefits of organ donation.

Kelly joined athletes from 45 countries across the globe as they took part in over 20 sporting and social events, coming together to celebrate the gift of life and demonstrate the importance of staying healthy and active post-transplant.

Kelly was just six weeks old when doctors realised she was born with a liver disease called Biliary Atresia.

At just eight months old Kelly underwent the lifesaving Liver transplant surgery where her mother Denise donated part of her Liver making it a living related transplant.

Since 2001 Kelly has been competing in swimming events and has won medals at the British and World Transplant Games. 

Kelly said: "It was great seeing everyone again and making new friends from other countries.

“I am extremely proud of what I managed to achieve while swimming out in Australia.

"I really hoped I helped raise awareness of organ donation and demonstrating on an international level how brilliant life can be post-transplant.”

For more information on the work that Transplant Sport is doing in the UK, visit: https://transplantsport.org.uk/