Pictured was Transplant Team Ireland’s Kieran Murray (kidney recipient) from Ramelton, Co Donegal with his wife Oliva and daughters Chloe (age 6), Grace (age 3) and Sophie (age 1). Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
A DONEGAL man defied all the odds to win Gold at the 9th European Transplant & Dialysis Championships in Vantaa, Finland.
Kieran Murray, a kidney transplant recipient from Ramelton, was unwell for his first event, the 5km race, which took place last Monday, managed to complete the race but did not secure a medal.
However, three days later he went on to win a Gold medal for his net score in his Golf event. Still trying to shake off his chest infection the following day, he persevered in the 1500m distance race and crossed the line in 4th place.
One day later, on the final day of events, he won a Bronze medal in the 800m race with a time of 2.31 minutes, slightly faster than his speed of 2.33 minutes for the same distance at last year’s World Transplant Games in Argentina.
Speaking after his last race was over, Kieran summed up his Games experience saying, “I had a very good experience here in Vantaa. Even though I had a chest infection it was still great to be able to compete.
“I really enjoyed my week here and it’s all all thanks to my donor. I met old friends and made new friends. It is an experience I will take with me for the rest of my life. I would like to thank everyone back home who supported me and I am looking forward to seeing my wife and three children at Dublin airport tomorrow.”
When he arrived back in Dublin airport he was greeted by supporters including his wife Olivia and three young daughters, two carrying banners ‘Welcome Home Daddy’.
The team’s final medal tally was a staggering 21 Gold, 19 Silver and 29 Bronze. This placed Ireland’s 28 strong team in fifth position on the medals table with host country Finland, and a much larger team of 96 athletes, taking top position out of 24 competing countries.
In second place was Hungary, followed by Great Britain and then Germany.