Tipperary athletes among the medals at European Transplant Games

Triathlete Sheila Gregan from Nenagh continued her streak of success at the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Cagliari, Sardinia.

She topped her achievement of winning a silver medal on Monday in the 5km race by winning her second silver medal in the 50m freestyle swimming event, finishing ahead of her Irish teammate Orla Hogan, also from Nenagh, who won a bronze medal.

Sheila Gregan, a kidney transplant recipient said, “This is my favourite discipline. I’ve been training with Nenagh Masters this year.

There was very tough competition in the pool, as there were mixed age categories so it makes the achievement all the more special. I’m forever grateful to my donor and their family. I’m so proud to be swimming for my country. It’s a great honour.”

Orla Hogan (above) has undergone four kidney transplants and this month celebrates the tenth anniversary of the living donor kidney transplant she received from her brother Cathal.

Orla said after winning her bronze in swimming, “It’s just great being here and that all of us are well enough to compete and to show our donors that organ donation works”.

Sheila is competing in her final event, the 20km cycling race, today, Wednesday, while Orla has two more disciplines to compete in later in the week - ten-pin bowling and the 3km Power Walk.