Bryan Eckersley wins double silvers at World Transplant Games

Bryan Eckersley has made a hat-trick of World Transplant Games appearances and his medal collection is quickly growing.

Last month, at the games in Malaga, Spain, the former New Zealand speed skating champion picked up silver medals in the 5km walk and the ten pin bowling singles for the 70+ age group.

The World Transplant Games is an international sporting event for athletes who have had transplant surgery. The event aims to demonstrate the physical success of transplant surgery and the ability of transplant recipients to lead healthy, normal lives, as well as enhance the understanding and acceptance of organ donation.

Eckersley was given a second chance at life in 2005 when he was the recipient of a new heart.

He suffered a heart attack in 2004, which led to a triple bypass operation.

"Things didn't really improve and 18 months later I managed to get a transplant.

"I was always a donor, but I never dreamed I would be a recipient. I'm very grateful to the donor family.

"I was very lucky I was only on the waiting list for three weeks. They told me afterwards that they didn't think I'd get one in time and I only had three weeks to live at that stage," he said.

He competed at the games in 2007, 2009 and 2017 and has also competed at five Australian Transplant Games and five New Zealand Masters Games. Since his transplant he has won a total of 57 medals.

"My ambition was to enjoy life, make the most of life and be able to compete in sport again. I played sport from when I was 5 years old - wrestling, field hockey, speed roller skating, roller hockey.

"It's just in me, I've always been competitive and I think, no matter what, that is in my make up. I wanted to make the most of what I had after the transplant - your outlook on life completely changes."

He said competing in Spain was "very hot".

"It was 37C the day I did my 5km walk. You have to be very careful of dehydration. I had Powerade and water beforehand and drank water during it. A lot of the water I tipped straight on my head just to try and keep cool.

"[The games] are very competitive. There were 52 countries competing in 37 different sports. The New Zealand team consisted of 12 adults, one child and one donor family member who had donated her kidney to her husband who was competing.

"All together New Zealand collected 21 medals and finished 19th out of the 52 countries for medal tally."

He also competed in the ten pin bowling pairs and the shotput.

Eckersley said New Zealand had the lowest donor rate of all the developed countries in the world and he urged Kiwis to talk to their families about their wishes after they died.

"In New Zealand it's on your licence, your wish to be a donor, but when the time comes your family can overrule the decision you have made.

"They should talk to their families and let them know that's their wish, and when the time comes they'd like their wish to be carried out.

"I never really thought much about it except it was on my licence, but when I needed one I was very fortunate and got one in time," he said.

For more information about organ donation visit www.donor.co.nz.