IRISH RUNNING legend Eamonn Coghlan yesterday gave a motivational speech to the 72 athletes who will represent Ireland at the European Transplant and Dialysis games taking place in Dublin next month.
Hosted in Ireland for the first time, the biannual games will feature 350 athletes from 24 countries who have received kidney, liver, heart, lung or bone marrow transplants or who are currently having dialysis treatment.
Mr Coghlan, who is a patron of the games, said he was “honoured and humbled to be an ambassador for the event”.
The three-time Olympian and world championship winner described his own challenges of overcoming injury and the death of his father before going on to win gold in the 5,000m at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki.“It was these setbacks that inspired me to come back and try harder – but you’ve dealt with challenges that other athletes will never face.
“And you’ve already won. To those facing into illness and to everyone else – you’re an inspiration.” Sandra Doyle from Beaumont, who had a liver transplant in 2003, has twice represented Ireland in badminton – at the World Transplant Games in Canada in 2005, and in the 2008 European Championships in Germany.
“Participating is my way of saying thanks to my donor. It feels amazing to walk behind the flag and represent Ireland. I’ve been given a second chance and I’m making the most of it.”
At the 2008 games in Germany, the Irish team finished third out of 24 countries, winning 42 medals. The games will take place from August 8th to 15th at the Dublin City University campus.
