Transplant Swimmer Is Aiming To Repeat Golden Touch
University of Greenwich at Medway student George Newman will head to Thailand in August determined to repeat his previous gold-medal winning achievements representing Great Britain at the World Transplant Games.
The 19-year-old, who has just completed a course in Extended Science and will take-up a degree level programme in September in Science and Medical Physiology, will take the plunge in the swimming events aiming to replicate his success from the 2005 event in Canada, where he claimed a hat-trick of gold medals.
George, who will be competing in the 50 and 100 metres breaststroke, 50 metres butterfly and 200 individual medley events, earned his place after impressing at the national transplant competitions that take place all over the UK.
The Greenwich Borough Mariner Swimming Club member had a kidney transplant in 1998 having experienced difficulties from birth. At first the transplant did not give George the desired new lease of life but after a change in medication, he has been able to take up swimming and now trains up to seven times a week as well as completing gym sessions.
He says: “After the transplant and the change in medication I am now a completely new person and am really looking forward to representing my country again. My life has changed so much in the past three years and swimming has introduced me to some amazing opportunities and increased my self-confidence no end.
“Last time I competed at the Games I brought home three gold medals and I hope to have similar success and better my times. I had a little setback recently when I broke my hand but I am sure I will be fit and ready to go when we fly out. Outside of the host nation Great Britain will have the largest squad with more than 50 adults and 30 juniors taking part in the different events.”
George, who hopes to qualify as a vet when his studies at the University of Greenwich at Medway are complete, adds: “For me and the other athletes to compete we require a lot of sponsorship and fundraising. I hope to be able to continue representing my country after this and will be aiming to make the team for the 2009 games which take place in Australia.”
Any individual or business wishing to sponsor George can contact him by email on kidneyswimmer@hotmail.com
For interview opportunities, please contact:
University of Greenwich at Medway Public Relations, tel: 020 8331 9420
Delphine Houlton, Andrew Metcalf or Jez Durrant, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033