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Badminton golds for Muff woman
04.09.09
Vienna triumphs at
Transplant Games
MUFF'S Vienna White is sure to receive a heroine’s
welcome when she flies into Dublin Airport today
with the rest of Irish team after completing a
successful World Transplant Games in Australia last
week. Vienna won two gold medals at the games, held
on the Gold Coast, for singles and doubles
badminton.
A major homecoming reception at Dublin Airport is
planned for the members of the Irish team, hailed by
team manager Colin White as “exceptional ambassadors
for organ donation, and also for Ireland.” Messages
of goodwill have poured into the team via their
dedicated website
www.TransplantTeamIreland.com .
Vienna who lives in Newmills, Letterkenny was
competing in her first World Games and just a year
after getting a kidney transplant. |
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The 22 medals won
placed Ireland eleventh out of 50 competing
countries on the medals table.
Over 2,000 athletes compete in a wide range of
sports at he games, staged every second year to
highlight the importance of organ donation.
Vienna dominated the badminton tournament at the
17th World Transplant Games, winning individual gold
in her age category before teaming up with Dubliner
Deirdre Faul to take the doubles title.
“This was a superb performance by Vienna and
Deirdre” said team manager Colin White. “The
badminton was extremely competitive but they pulled
out all the stops to go all the way. |
It was a great day for
the Irish team.”
Among the top performers at the Games was Deirdre,
who won four gold medals.
Clarina, Co. Limerick, man John Loftus, who
completed a Usain Bolt-style double on the track by
capturing gold in the 100m and 200m titles. He won
the 100m title on Friday last, his 62nd birthday.
There were gold medals too for Mick Dwyer,
Cabinteely, Co. Dublin; Tony Gartland, Hacketstown,
Co. Wicklow; Vienna White, Newmills, Letterkenny,
Co. Dublin; and Philip Martin, Swords, Co. Dublin.
The 19-strong Irish team ranging in age from 22 to
64, have travelled Down Under with 13 new kidneys,
five new livers and one new kidney-pancreas.
“Every day, the athletes remember their donors, and
each performance, let alone victory, is a way of
saying thank you to the donors who gave them the
gift of life,” added Colin.
“These athletes show that people who receive
transplants can live a full and active life. The
enthusiasm of all athletes at the Games is the best
possible way of illustrating just how crucial it is
that people carry organ donor card,” said Mr White.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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