GSF’s Maggie Cotter is celebrating this week after winning a silver medal and a bronze medal as part of Team GB at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany that concluded on 24 August.
She was one of 267 Team GB transplant athletes, including 28 junior athletes and 16 live donor athletes in a celebration of determination in the competitive sporting arena.
Maggie, who trains at Kempston Pool and participates in some of the Live Longer Better activity sessions run by Bedford Borough Council, competed in five individual swimming events in the female 60-69 years category, plus a relay in Dresden.
She secured a silver medal in the 100m backstroke and a bronze in the 50m backstroke. She also recorded two sixth places and an eighth place in the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle respectively.
This was an impressive return, considering Maggie was only well enough to start swimming again in February 2024, after more than 20 years of ill health and two successful organ transplants.
Maggie’s participation at the World Transplant Games was aided by GLL’s Sport Foundation Grant, receiving a share of £18,900 in sporting grants, awarded to 28 athletes across Bedford in June.
This allowed her to be a part of a 56-strong swimming contingent for Team GB, who won 130 medals in total at the Games and recorded 28 world records.
