Robert Grabowski

Name:
Robert Grabowski

Date of Birth:
07.05.1991

Region/Country:
Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg

Since when have you been transplanted?
Since 2003 (liver), since 2004 (kidney), and since 2016 (kidney)

Which organ was transplanted?
Liver and kidney

Why was the transplant necessary, and what has it enabled you to do?
The transplant was necessary due to a genetic defect. My liver and kidney functions were so severely impaired that there was no alternative to transplantation. The transplant gave me a new life, allowing me to live almost normally. It enabled me to study, travel abroad, and pursue a career – things that would have been impossible after 2003 without the transplant.

How was the time for you just before and after the transplant?
I don’t recall much about the time before my first transplant, as I was only 12 years old, and some memories are blurry. However, it was marked by significant uncertainty and limitations as my health deteriorated. Fortunately, I received a donor liver after just a few weeks on the waiting list. Before my second kidney transplant in 2016, the limitations were more apparent. Due to worsening kidney function, I retained a lot of water, and my physical performance was severely restricted by poor blood values. I could only engage in sports to a very limited extent. Shortly before the operation, I also had to undergo dialysis for three months, which greatly restricted my free time during my training, leaving even less time for sports.

After each transplant, I quickly noticed an improvement in my well-being. I began light strength training during rehab, which helped me recover quickly. A year after the transplant, I was even able to swim in a pool again.

What role does sports play in your life?
Sports have always played a significant role in my life. I played handball from a young age until the C-youth, even after my transplants. I’ve always been open to other sports: I played tennis in a club for a year, was active in karate for several years, and did gymnastics during my high school years. Following my 2016 transplant, I received high doses of corticosteroids, leading to hip necrosis. As a result, I received new hip joints at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. Due to the mobility limitations and associated pain, I discovered swimming in 2017!

Sports constantly motivate me to keep going and never give up. Even when there are health setbacks, sports help me regain quality of life. Sports also give me a way to contribute positively to the outcome of my transplants, giving me at least a small sense of control over my health situation.

What have you already achieved in sports?

• German Championships 2018: Gold in 50m freestyle
• German Championships 2021: Gold in 50m freestyle + breaststroke
• German Championships 2022: Gold in 50m freestyle + breaststroke
• German Championships 2023: Gold in 50m freestyle + breaststroke
• World Transplant Games 2023 Perth: Participated, no medals
• German Championships 2024: Gold in 50m freestyle + breaststroke
• European Transplant Sports Championships 2024 Lisbon: Bronze in 50m breaststroke, Bronze in freestyle and medley relay, and Silver in javelin

What do you associate with the World Transplant Games, and why are you excited about WTG2025 in Dresden?
My first international championships were the WTG in Perth. It was a special moment to meet so many other transplanted athletes with similar stories and to exchange experiences. Of course, it also helped me improve athletically. The strong international competition motivated me to keep training after the championships.

In which competitions will you likely compete in Dresden?

• Swimming: 50m breaststroke, 50m and 100m freestyle, as well as in swimming relays
• Track & Field: Javelin