Bedford’s Maggie Cotter is celebrating this week after winning a silver medal and a bronze medal as part of Team GB at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany that concluded on 24 August.
She was one of 267 Team GB transplant athletes, including 28 junior athletes and 16 live donor athletes in a celebration of determination in the competitive sporting arena.
Maggie, who trains at Kempston Pool and participates in some of the Live Longer Better activity sessions run by Bedford Borough Council, competed in five individual swimming events in the female 60-69 years category, plus a relay in Dresden.
She secured a silver medal in the 100m backstroke and a bronze in the 50m backstroke.
She also recorded two sixth places and an eighth place in the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle respectively.
This was an impressive return, considering Maggie was only well enough to start swimming again in February 2024, after more than 20 years of ill health and two successful organ transplants.
Two of 130 Team GB medals
“Knowing I would be representing Team GB at the games, and highlighting the importance and benefits of organ donation has been a real motivator for me,” said Maggie.
“This was my first World Transplant Games and I had no expectations of winning one medal, let alone two. I was thrilled to be on the podium, but it was also very emotional as these achievements would not be possible without my donors and donor families,” she added.
Maggie’s participation at the World Transplant Games was aided by GLL’s Sport Foundation Grant, receiving a share of £18,900 in sporting grants, awarded to 28 athletes across Bedford in June.
Read: 62-year old transplant recipient among winners of GLL Sport Foundation grant
This allowed her to be a part of a 56-strong swimming contingent for Team GB, who won 130 medals in total at the Games and recorded 28 world records.
“It has been amazing to meet so many transplant recipients from children to people in their 80s, from all around the world, competing and honouring their donors,” added Maggie.
“The difference organ donation has made to all our lives is incredible. Most of us would no longer be here without the gift of life so generously given at such a heart breaking time.”
More than 8,000 people in the UK are currently waiting for a transplant, but with only 59% per cent of the UK population registered as organ donors, there is a consistent drive for more.
This is despite a change in the organ donation law that came into effect in May 2020, where adults over 18 need to actively opt out of organ donation. Otherwise, adults in the UK are considered to agree to become an organ donor when they die, with some exceptions.
Lynne Holt, Team Manager and Patron of Transplant Sport added: “The World Transplant Games are a great opportunity for our transplant athletes to compete at an international level, to share their stories and inspire people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
“The athletes have had heart, lungs, liver, kidney, pancreas, multi visceral and stem cell transplants.
“They are busy keeping fit and regularly training in their sport. However, the opportunity to represent their country, celebrate the gift of life and in doing so, pay tribute to their donors, is the goal!”
