SWIMMER Kelly Young covered herself in gold glory to make a splash at the World Transplant Games in Spain.

Competing in five swimming races, the 23-year-old Stratford Park Leisure Centre swimming instructor bagged four individual gold medals and three bronze medals in the 18-29 age group.

All participants at the World Games, held every two years, have received a life-saving organ transplant – be it heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas or bone marrow. Kelly received a liver transplant, part of her mum’s liver, in August 1994, at the age of eight months.

In addition to the physical sporting challenge, the World Games, supported by the International Olympic Committee, is the largest organ donor awareness event in the world, promoting the benefits of organ transplantation and highlighting the need for organ donation; athletes raising awareness and celebrating their second chance at life.

The Games feature a range of sporting events and this year, in Malaga, almost 3,000 competitors from 52 countries took part.

Kelly, who also swims for Stroud Masters, said:” I won two gold medals in the 50m & 100m backstroke, gaining an age group transplant games world record in the 100m backstroke, and three bronze medals in the 50m fly, 200m freestyle and 200m Individual Medley. Ie also competed in the UK Women’s Freestyle and Individual Medley Relay Teams, winning gold medals in both.”

Kelly’s first World Transplant Games was in Bangkok, Thailand in August 2007 and this was her sixth World Transplant Games.

“Participating in the 21st World Transplant Games was a wonderful experience,” Kelly added. “The team spirit was fantastic and I had a wonderful time getting to know many amazing people, each with their own very special story. Spain has continued to do their part in raising the profile of organ donation and I hope that the publicity raised through my participation in the Games has further increased awareness for organ donation more locally too.”