Zoë Dixon - Norcross

A SUMMER OF SPORT

THE BRITISH AND WORLD TRANSPLANT GAMES 2007

I flew to Thailand to take part in the XVI World Transplant Games, 25^th August – 2^nd September in Bangkok. The World Games are our Transplant Olympics and the biggest international celebration of the gift of life that there is. It is a unique opportunity to share in giving thanks to all donor families, to demonstrate the healthy and active lifestyle that can be achieved after organ transplantation and to raise the profile of organ donation.

This was my third World Games, having previously competed for Great Britain in France 2003 and Canada 2005.

My first event, the 5K Cycling time trial at the new highway out of the main city. Across all the cycling age groups, male and female, there were to be 60 riders. I was the 6^th rider to set off just after 6pm, trying to catch the girl in front and go as fast as I could, using every drop of energy to ride the route as fast as possible right to the line. I was ecstatic I’d done it, Gold medal and beating Irma from Hungary into silver by 20 seconds whilst Lisa from Australia took bronze! I was delighted. I was captain of our cycling team of four and cheered the men on in their races, Andy and Rich also got Golds so a good night for GB.

The following day it was the 20K road race. Again it came down to me, Irma and Lisa. I managed to take it away on the final lap and was absolutely thrilled to win Gold and be double World Champion. I then watched the men’s race and cheered on my team mates, the pack riding for the men is exciting to watch with some very close finishing Andy was beaten into silver by the width of a tyre and Rich took Gold.

On Friday it was the 100m. When the gun went off I flew out of the blocks, I knew there was lots of cheering, as a Cypriot girl and I took the lead. The race was over in a flash and I had a Silver medal. I was delighted, it had been a good race and I had done a personal best of 15:53.

The 200m was at 9am on Saturday morning. The race was a close one, I lead off the bend but Christina was on my inside and as we raced the home straight she beat me by 0.2 seconds, I had smashed my previous personal best by nearly 2 seconds to do 31.62 and take Silver.

I thought my events were over but was then selected by the team captain for the 4x400m relay which was to be the last race of the day. The GB men had just won their race in a thrilling finish and then we were up next. I took the last leg to bring the baton home for GB Gold, we had beaten the Aussies into second and not many people can say that! GB had topped the medal table again, with Australia second and USA third.

I’m looking forward to next year’s British Games to be held in Sheffield and then in 2009 the next World Games will be on the Australian Gold Coast and I will certainly be aiming to take part!

I would like to thank HASSRA for your generous sponsorship which helped me to successfully represent my country, raise awareness of organ transplantation and above all celebrate the gift of life, thank you.