Simon Arndt

Name:
Simon Arndt

Date of Birth:
04/10/1990

Region/Country:
Munich, Germany

Since when have you been transplanted?
December 1993

Which organ was transplanted?
Heart

Why was the transplant necessary, and what has it enabled you to do?
I was born with three congenital heart defects, including a transposition of the great arteries (TGA), where the main arteries are switched, an Ebstein’s anomaly, which is a malformation of the heart, and a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is a defect in the heart’s septum. The probability of having a VSD is 40%, a TGA 2%, and an Ebstein’s anomaly 0.4%.

When you think about having all three at once, you need an unwaveringly positive mindset, incredible mental resilience, and a good sense of humor!

It has enabled me an entire life. Since I was transplanted at the young age of 3 and wouldn’t have had a chance of surviving without the transplant, the answer to this question is as simple as it is fundamental: my entire life.

It gave me everything I’ve been able to experience so far. Every moment I’ve spent with my family, my friends, and everyone I love. Every single feeling of disappointment, anger, sadness, fear, doubt, heartbreak, helplessness, and emptiness—but most of all, every second that I’ve been able to feel love, to give and receive love, every moment of happiness, contentment, ease, monumental freedom, the feeling of being healthy, being at peace with myself, on the right path, every moment of euphoria, ecstasy, passion, and excitement.

I think the greatest achievement my story has given me is the ability to demand everything from life in every moment and to live every moment fully. And at the same time, it gave me a mindset that makes me feel like anything is possible!

– “If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands.” –

How was the time for you just before and after the transplant?
When I think back to the time before my transplant today, I’d be lying if I said, “I remember everything exactly.” Since I was only 3 years old, I didn’t really grasp much of it. The congenital heart defects were diagnosed at birth or even earlier, so my first three years were filled with many medical exams, hospital stays, and surgeries. At 7 months old, I underwent my first surgery by a specialist in Monaco. Then, in December 1993, came the transplant. Thankfully, after the heart transplant, my health quickly improved, and I was able to recover well. Just six months after the transplant, my parents took my little brother and me on vacation to recover from the hardships of the last three years. I think that was a moment of relief, especially for my parents—a moment when everyone had hope that I might be able to live a normal life. The fact that I am where I am today is a little miracle. This miracle is largely thanks to my parents, who never gave up on me.

What role does sport play in your life?
Sport is one of the most important elements of my life. During my childhood and youth, I was very active in sports, playing soccer with friends, hiking in the mountains in the summer, and skiing in the winter. It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I began to focus more on sport in relation to my health. At this point in my life, I became aware of how essential fitness is for my well-being—not just the physical aspect of sports, but especially the mental one. Through sports, I’ve learned to push both my body and mind to their limits and beyond. Understanding and experiencing firsthand that the body can accomplish far more through intense training than the mind can imagine was a new experience for me at that time. Of course, my focus was always on my health. When you do a lot of sports, you need a lot of energy. So, around that time, I also started to pay close attention to my nutrition. I not only learned what to eat and how to eat when exercising, but also how important a healthy, balanced diet is. Since then, sport and nutrition have become two of my most important pillars for a healthy and happy life.

What have you already achieved in sports?
I’ve experienced countless sports highlights in my life. The last big highlight was the World Transplant Games in Australia. But let’s start from the beginning. At five years old, I stood on skis for the first time. It was a rough start, but after a few days, I fell in love with it. At 15, 16, and 17, I participated in a few ski races, mostly giant slalom. During that time, I spent almost every weekend in winter skiing, and I loved it. To this day, I am passionate about skiing.

During my school years and later at university, I played soccer. There weren’t many trophies and medals, but I do remember one tournament where no one expected us to win. In the end, we won, and I was able to help the team with two goals. That was one of my big soccer highlights. The many hikes I’ve done also count as highlights. Growing up near the Alps, they’ve always been a part of my life. Being on the mountain early and seeing the sunrise—there are few things more beautiful.

As I mentioned earlier, last year, I competed in the World Transplant Games in Australia. A huge personal highlight for me. Our team won the bronze medal in soccer, which I’m very proud of!

What do you associate with the World Transplant Games, and why are you excited about WTG2025 in Dresden?
At first glance, the World Transplant Games are a sports competition for all transplant recipients from around the world. And they are, but they’re so much more. I went to Australia with the goal of winning a medal. I’m competitive, I wanted to win. But I returned with many new people who inspired me, changed my perspective, amazed me, and showed me once again what life is really about: love. Love for people, love for connecting with all these people, and finally, love for life. For me, it’s a huge celebration to honor the love for life with everyone. And next year, this celebration will take place right here in our hometown, giving us all another chance to be inspired, to be amazed, to connect, and to gain new perspectives from around the world. The ambition is still there—we want to win, and we’ll be ready!

In which competitions will you likely compete in Dresden?
Soccer, sprint, high jump and 1500m relay.