Busselton resident Josh Yates has been selected to join a team of transplant athletes who will represent Australia at the World Transplant Games in Spain.
The games take place in the city of Malaga from June 25 until July 2, with athletes competing in athletics, swimming, basketball, golf, kayaking and more.
Yates, who is a bone-marrow recipient, has been training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra with other Australian transplant athletes, which should give him an edge over his competitors when he dons the green and gold in June.
At the AIS, Yates said he wanted to focus on his race walking technique to enable a far more efficient style.
“Being vision impaired makes it difficult for me to improve (and) the ataxia that I have in my body makes things more difficult for me; however my determination usually outweighs any problems,” he said.
“I am happy to be healthy and I am very grateful to my bone marrow donor.
“I am going to The Australian Institute of Sport on Friday for a training camp.
“I am also looking for some sponsorship to get to Spain.”
The World Transplant Games are held every two years and unite 60 countries for a week of sport, the World Transplant Games promotes the benefits of organ and tissue donation to the world.
The Australian team will compete against more than 2000 athletes vying for gold this year.
The equivalent of the Olympics for those who’ve had a transplant, the World Transplant Games also helps transplant recipients strive towards improved health and fitness.
The World Transplant Games Federation will stage the 2017 Games in the hope the event will inspire citizens from around the globe to register as organ and tissue donors.
Transplant Australia, as the official transplant sports organisation in Australia, will send a team to the World Transplant Games.
