By Justin Flynn
Tamaryn Stevens is relaxed and confident about her chances in the upcoming World Transplant Games.
Home at Ocean Grove for the long weekend, Tamaryn told the Voice she will head to the games at Malaga, Spain, on the very same day 12 years since she received her new kidney from mother, Amy.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Tamaryn said.
“There’s lot of joy, a little bit of nerves, but I’ve met so many wonderful people along the way and had so many great experiences.”
Tamaryn, 25, will compete in the 30km road race, the 5km time trial and the 20km time trial at the games and has her sights set high.
“I would love to win the road race,” she said.
“I’d also like to win the time trials, but the road race is more my thing. I think I’ve learned a lot since the last time I did a time trial, though. I feel like I’ve done all I can in the lead up. I feel like I’m in a good spot.”
The World Transplant Games is for athletes who have had an organ transplant. There will be more than 2500 participants in Malaga from 55 countries.
Tamaryn received her kidney transplant after suffering from focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. She won two gold medals at last year’s Australian Transplant Games in the 5km time trial and the 30km road race. She recorded personal best times in both events – less than 10 minutes in the 5km time trial and less than 57 minutes in the 30km road race.
“Organ donation gives someone their life back,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have had any of the chances I’ve had without it. I struggled to walk.”
Tamaryn said the moment she realised she was ready was on a training ride up to the summit of Mt Buller recently.
“We were heading up and we stopped and I looked around and said ‘how good is this? I am riding up Mt Buller’,” she said.
“I would never have dreamed I’d ever be able to ride up Mt Buller.”
