Student brings home medal for Team GB at World Transplant Games

BA Theatre and Performance Practice student Lucy Ryan won a silver medal at the tournament last month for Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Perth.

Lucy raised over £3,000 to make the 16-hour flight to the Western Australian city and compete at the prestigious games in which Team GB&NI brought home 288 medals, including over 100 golds, from 120 different competitors.

The milestone was deeply personal for Lucy as her success coincided with the 30th year anniversary of her heart transplant operation that she had at the tender age of two.

Lucy secured the silver medal in the 3km race walk, finished sixth in the 100m sprint and competed in the ball throw.

She said: “There were so many highlights and amazing memories from the trip. It was a nice bonus to bring back some bling!

“Everyone there was so nice. It felt like such a supportive and inspirational environment. I definitely made some lifelong friends and it felt pretty amazing to be proudly representing our country.”

Across the event from April 15 to 21, Lucy was also able to have some downtime to explore the city and also attended a cultural evening at the Boola Bardip Museum where she wore a cultural dress designed by fellow Salford student Agata Ksiazkowska.

Lucy has also been planning a 10,000ft skydive which is now set to take place on Monday 29 May. She will freefall for thirty seconds – one second for every extra year of her life thanks to her donor.

It is in aid of Transplant Sport, the UK’s largest national charity that supports the recovery of transplant recipients and organises the British Transplant Games.

With the British games taking place this July in Coventry, Lucy is continuing her training back in Salford as she hopes to qualify for the next World Transplant Games in Germany in 2025.