Mairead wins 5 medals
A Cork “super woman” has taken home a haul of 5 medals from the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth, Australia.
Bone marrow transplant recipient Mairead O'Mahony from Berrings opened her tally by taking silver in the 5km race event on the first day of the games.
The 44 year old then went on to take gold in the shot-put event with a personal best of 8.96 metres, before taking another gold in the 800m race. She then secured her second silver in the javelin event, followed by a bronze medal in the 1500m race.
The Team Transplant Ireland newcomer credited her donor brother for making it all possible.
“I don't think it has sunk in yet. It's more than I ever could have imagined. It has been an amazing experience with a fantastic team,” said Mairead.
She added: “I want to thank my brother Willie for being my donor when I was 18 years old. It was so long ago but being here at the World Transplant Games has brought it to the forefront of how amazing it is that he literally saved my life.”
The Irish team, a panel of 10 men and 4 women, left Perth with an impressive haul of 17 medals overall, including 7 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze, together with 2 World Transplant Games time records broken.
In other events at the games, Mallow man Pat O’Sullivan narrowly missed out on a medal in the 100m race, coming in 4th in his age category of 50-58. However, Pat took home the gold in the in the golf pairs competition partnered with fellow Cork man Hugh Nolan.
Ranging in age from 36 to 75, the Transplant Team Ireland’s 14 members have all received organ transplants, including 2 liver, 2 bone marrow, and 10 kidney. The 14 Irish athletes were among 1,524 participants from 46 countries this year.
Team Ireland’s 4 Cork members are Michael Kiely from Mitchelstown, Pat O’Sullivan from Mallow, Hugh Nolan from Donaraile, and Mairead O’Mahony from Berrings.
At this year’s games, Team Ireland has representatives in cycling, darts, golf, lawn bowls, pétanque, road race, swimming, table tennis, 10 pin bowling, tennis, and triathlon. Each of the athletes funded their participation in the games, including games registration, flights, accommodation, and meals, through fundraising in the name of the Irish Kidney Association/Transplant Team Ireland, as well as using their own funds.