DALKEY's champion swimmer, Deirdre Faul, has kept up her stellar success record by scooping three Gold and two Silver medals at the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in Sardinia.
The 50-year-old won her first Gold in the 50m Freestyle event which was crowned with her personal best time of 36.51 seconds while beating her Hungarian oppontant who took Silver and a UK athlete who came third.
A couple of hours earlier Deirdre, a liver transplant recipient, seized a Silver medal in the 400m Free-style where once again the Hungarians proved to be stiff competition, coming in first and third.
In the afternoon, despite the heat and humidity, the formidable Deirdre went on to win another Gold in the 50m Breaststroke with another personal best time.
She also won a Silver in the 100m Breaststroke and topped off her mighty performance in her final swim race of the day by scooping her third Gold in the 100m Freestyle event.
At the end of a phenomenal day Deirdre said: “I’m pleased with how I swam today. I achieved two personal bests, one in the 50m Freestyle and one in the 50m Breaststroke. The schedule was very busy and it was a challenge with mixed-age categories.
“I’ve really appreciated the support of Swim Ireland and I’m looking forward to working with them again on improving times for the World Games. And, of course, a big thanks to my donor and donor family for giving me the gift of life.”
The European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships are open to all kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and bone marrow transplant recipients as well as dialysis patients.
The multi-sport event includes athletics, badminton, cycling, darts, golf, mini marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, tennis and ten-pin bowling.
A virtual triathlon has been added by the hosts alongside archery and surf-casting. Athletes are divided into six age groups while swimming and track and field bring the sporting specialties total to 39.
At another beautiful Cagliari location, Poetta Beach, other members of the 23 -trong Irish team, which ranges in age from 31 to 80, amassed a total of six Silver and five Bronze medals in the Petanque singles and Petanque doubles events.
The Petanque singles medals winners included Verina Borrisova from Tallaght (a dialysis patient) while medals were also won by kidney transplant recipient Lenny Ryan, also from Tallaght.
“I’m delighted with my medal,” Lenny said after winning his Silver medal in Petanque. “It was a really enjoyable event and I’m having a great time at this year’s games. I’m really looking forward to Bowling tomorrow. The Games are an opportunity to showcase that organ donation works. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my donor.”
