July 7, 2017 1.08 pm This story is over 80 months old

Woodhall Spa teen brings home eight medals from World Transplant Games, including six golds

A Woodhall Spa teenager has brought eight medals back to Lincolnshire from the World Transplant Games, including a remarkable six golds. Declan Bennett, 18, broke three Transplant Game records in Malaga, competing against some athletes a decade older than him. His success comes despite not training while he focused on exams, an injury two months…
Declan Bennett won an amazing eight medals at the World Transplant Games in Malaga

A Woodhall Spa teenager has brought eight medals back to Lincolnshire from the World Transplant Games, including a remarkable six golds.

Declan Bennett, 18, broke three Transplant Game records in Malaga, competing against some athletes a decade older than him.

His success comes despite not training while he focused on exams, an injury two months ago and lack of access to a 50-metre pool.

At the age of seven, it was discovered that Declan had chronic renal failure – a condition that meant he needed a kidney transplant.

Declan received a living donor kidney transplant from his father Guy in 2009.

The donated kidney enabled Declan to work towards a healthy lifestyle and return to the many sporting activities that he enjoyed prior to surgery.

Declan took gold in the Individual 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke.

He also helped take gold in both the 4 x 50m Medley Relay, where the team broke the TG record by six seconds, as well as the 4 x 50m Freestyle where the team broke the record by five seconds.

Declan also took gold in the 200m Individual Medley.

On the track Declan also excelled, taking silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 400m.

As part of the team for the 4 x 400m relay, Declan helped them secure another gold, while breaking the record again.

Declan is also competing at the British Transplant Games in Lanarkshire at the end of the month and is then set for a relaxing family holiday.

He said: “I can’t quite believe it, we’ve exceeded all our expectations.

“The competition was much tougher this time as more people could afford to attend with the games being in Europe.

“I had a wonderful time and to bring back this number of medals is fantastic.”