Team Northern Ireland success at World Transplant Games 2025

The Games represent the largest organ donor awareness event in the world with a week-long competition taking in 17 sporting disciplines. Team Northern Ireland, competing for the first time as a stand-alone country, joined 1,500 transplant athletes from 51 countries across the globe.  Organised by the World Transplant Games Federation, the Games took place 17-24 August and exist to promote organ donation, encouraging recipients to improve their health and fitness around their transplanted organ, and to show appreciation for, and remember organ donors and their families. 

The Northern Ireland team comprised of 22 transplanted athletes and 5 living donor athletes, who took part in a wide range of sports including swimming, triathlon, archery, table-tennis, ten-pin bowling, golf, cycling and track and field. The transplant athletes have had heart, liver, kidney and stem cell transplants.

Team NI came 11th in the medal table achieving a remarkable 18 Gold, 9 Silver and 8 Bronze medals for such a small, newly formed team.

Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency congratulated the achievements of the team saying:

“27 inspirational athletes from across Northern Ireland represtented Team NI on the world stage, and delivered ourstanding results. 22 of the athletes are recipients who have had their life transformed through donation and transplantation, and 5 were living kidney donors, 3 of whom donated to a stranger – which is inspirational in itself. 

The results are a culmination of hard work and commitment to a rigorous traning schedule, and the whole team should be extremely proud of what they have acheived.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt also paid tribute to the performances of the team:

“I would like to congratulate Team NI on their remarkable achievements at the World Transplant Games.

The Team’s inspiring performance sends a powerful message about the importance of organ donation and transplant recovery.

Their success is a powerful testament to the strength, resilience and spirit of those who have undergone life-saving transplants, and of course to those who have donated an organ or have made the decision to donate their loved ones’ organs at what clearly is one of the most difficult times of their lives.”

Orla Smyth, athlete, Team Manager, and Chair of Transplant Sport Northern Ireland (TSNI) said: 

“I cannot put into words how proud I am of the team of transplanted athletes and living donors who represented NI in Dresden. If I’m honest the medals were a bonus - the team spirit, camaraderie and what amazing ambassadors they all were for organ donation is the big win for me.”

Some notable performances included, Keith Murphy, stem-cell recipient, who won Gold in the individual Sprint Triathlon and Silver in the Cycling Team Time Trial with teammates Richie Sheerin (Stem cell) and Kay Hack (Stem cell). 

Keith reflected on the Games:

“To stand on a start line of any event during the week in Dresden, where every single person around you has a story where they overcome many hurdles in life just to be there, having got a second chance in life, is simply humbling and inspiring!”

The months of training paid off with numerous personal bests smashed and individual goals met. Highlights of the week also included several team medals - Gold in the Mixed Sprint Triathlon for Kathryn Glover, Richie Sheerin and Seamus Coyle, Silver in the Woman’s Cycling Team Time Trial for Orla Smyth and Suzanne McConnell, with the Woman’s 4x400M Relay taking Bronze – a climax as the final event in a buzzing Heinz-Steyer Stadium. Standing on the podium together, celebrating as a newly formed Northern Irish team, made the medals and memories even more special.

Paul Lawler who was gravely ill during the pandemic awaiting a life-saving liver transplant and has battled against numerous health challenges took Silver in the individual Archery. Attending the World Transplant Games has given him a new sense of purpose and motivation:

“As a full-time wheelchair user, it’s difficult to get involved in sports but TSNI have given me the motivation and focus to keep active and feel part of the team and I am very thankful for that. Organ donation saves lives and I hope to encourage more people to have that crucial conversation with their families and register their decision, without organ donation I would not be here today.”

At the Closing Ceremony, the “Baton of Life” was symbolically passed on to Leuven, Belgium, where the next World Transplant Games will take place in 2027.