Alexandra Gyurkó

Name:
Alexandra Gyurkó

Date of Birth/Age:
05.08.1996

Country:
Hungary

Since when have you been transplanted?
I was transplanted in 1997.

Which organ was transplanted?
I received a liver transplant.

Why was the transplantation necessary, and what has it enabled you to do?
I had biliary atresia, and when I was just one month old, the doctors diagnosed my condition. Fortunately, my mom was able to donate a piece of her liver to me, and the operation took place in Hamburg. Since then, I have been healthy and able to live a completely normal life.

How was the time for you just before and after the transplant?
I don’t remember much about the time before the transplant. After the transplant, I was able to attend kindergarten, go to school, and even start swimming lessons. I lived like a “normal” child. When I was around 5 years old, I asked my parents why I had a scar on my stomach, and that’s when they told me the story of my transplant.

What role does sports play in your life?
Sport plays a very important role in my life. I started swimming when I was 9 years old, and since then, the water has become my second home. Swimming brings me a sense of peace that I sometimes struggle to find in my busy daily life. I love everything swimming has taught me—endurance, teamwork, competition, patience, and time management. After 15 years of swimming, I decided to challenge myself and try something new. Now, I am the swim coach for the Hungarian Transplant Swim Team. It’s incredibly motivating and fills me with pride because each member has their own story of transplantation, yet in the water, they focus on their goals.

What have you already achieved in sports?
I have been participating in Transplant Games since 2006, starting at 10 years old in Pécs, Hungary. My first World Transplant Games were in Bangkok in 2007. Since then, I have been an active member of the Hungarian Transplant Team.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to compete in 14 Transplant Games (7 European Transplant Games and 7 World Transplant Games). I have won over 55 medals from these events. Each of these medals represents the hard work, early mornings, the support of my family, and the teamwork that got me there.

In 2015 and 2018, I was nominated for, and won, the award for the best athlete in the disabled category in Hungary. Every time I look at these awards, I feel incredibly motivated to keep going.

What do you associate with the World Transplant Games, and why are you excited about WTG2025 in Dresden?
The World Transplant Games feel like my second home. These events show me that I am in the right place with the right people around me. I can’t wait to meet my friends again.

The 2025 Games will be especially busy for me because I will not only be competing, but I will also be there as a coach and the Team Manager.

I hope my family and friends will be there too. It will be amazing to celebrate the gift of life with them!

In which competitions will you likely compete in Dresden?
I will definitely compete in the swimming events, although I’m still not sure which ones exactly. I will likely do the 50m and 100m freestyle, as they are the most exciting races for me. I might even surprise myself and my family by entering a race outside of the pool!