George bids for gold (From News Shopper)

George bids for gold

5:09pm Thursday 26th July 2007 in Sport

UNIVERSITY of Greenwich student George Newman will head to Thailand in August determined to repeat his previous gold-medal winning achievements representing Great Britain at the World Transplant Games.

The 19-year-old will take the plunge in the swimming events, aiming to replicate his success at the 2005 event in Canada, where he claimed a hat-trick of gold medals.

George, who will be competing in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley events, earned his place after impressing at national transplant competitions which take place across the UK.

The Greenwich Borough Mariner Swimming Club member had a kidney transplant in 1998 having experienced difficulties from birth.

At first the transplant did not give George the desired new lease of life, but after a change in medication, he has been able to take up swimming and now trains up to seven times a week as well as completing gym sessions.

He said: "After the transplant and the change in medication I am now a completely new person and am really looking forward to representing my country again.

"My life has changed so much in the past three years and swimming has introduced me to some amazing opportunities and increased my self-confidence no end.

"Last time I competed at the Games, I brought home three gold medals and hope to have similar success and better my times.

"I had a little setback recently when I broke my hand, but I am sure I will be fit and ready to go when we fly out.

"Outside of the host nation, Great Britain will have the largest squad with more than 50 adults and 30 juniors taking part in the different events."

George, who hopes to qualify as a vet when his studies at the University of Greenwich's Medway campus are complete, added: "For me and the other athletes to compete we require a lot of sponsorship and fundraising.

"I hope to be able to continue representing my country after this and will be aiming to make the team for the 2009 games which take place in Australia."