Orla’s Swedish blog – part 2
Mon 27 June 2011--admin
Congratulation to Orla on her continued fantastic success in Sweden at the World Transplant Games. Part two of her blog has just arrived…
“What can I say as i sit in Gothenburg airport waiting to go to Stockholm about the amazing week I’ve had on so many fronts.
Wednesday was the first day of the track and I took on the 1500 and 400m. The 1500 was first and I have to say, I actually really enjoyed the race, and definitely a distance I like doing (when it’s over anyway!). I came over the line in 5.37.86 and was absolutely delighted as I took over 6 seconds off the current world transplant games record which was held by an Australian and a gold medal too.
Later in the afternoon and it was time to take on the 400 and it hurt!! Found it really really tough but finished at the front of the pack again in 68.31 and again over took the existing world record of 1.09.50. Was a great day and the support was fantastic, the south africans are just amazing singers!! Irene jeffers also had a great day taking silver in the 400m in her age category. After lots of ice and massage and an early night, Thursday had the 200, 800 and 4×400 womens relay, a busy day! I took gold again in the 200 but decided that its definitely too short a distance for me in the future!! Next came the 800 which I absolutely loved running too, again it was tough and the only rain of the day came when we were just about to start, but I had a really good race and finished first ahead of a fellow team mate an american to take gold and another world transplant games record with a time of 5.37.86 overtaking the previous record of 5.44.68.
I can honestly say after this one the thought of the finale of the 4×400 was not appealing but we had the strongest team on paper and took the gold in the last event of the games before every country stood side by side round the track to close the games.
So my medal tally was 6 golds and a silver and three records.
I am absolutely wrecked but have not just experienced a really successful event on the track but something much more unique. To think that over 1000 athletes competing are only able to do so because they’ve had a transplant is a truly humbling experience. I hope all the athletes hard work shows people that transplantation really works and encourages people to sign up to the donor register and of course to thank all our donors who enabled us all to take part.
A few days rest I think for me, though with the games in South Africa in 2013, I definitely have something to work towards!!!”
Orla