Born in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Robert has undergone multiple transplants: a liver transplant in 2003, a kidney transplant in 2004, and a second kidney transplant in 2016. These life-saving procedures were necessary due to a genetic defect that severely impaired his liver and kidney functions. Thanks to these transplants, Robert was able to rebuild his life, achieving what once seemed impossible—studying, traveling abroad, and pursuing a career.
For Robert, sports have always played a key role in his life, even before his transplants. From a young age, he was active in handball, tennis, karate, and gymnastics. However, it was after his 2016 kidney transplant, when he began facing new physical challenges, that he discovered a passion for swimming. Despite undergoing hip replacements in 2018 and 2019 due to complications from high-dose corticosteroids, Robert didn’t let anything hold him back. He dove into swimming and found new motivation, using sports to regain control over his health and continually push himself forward.
Robert’s impressive sporting achievements include multiple gold medals in the German Championships (DM), with victories in 50m freestyle and breaststroke between 2018 and 2024. He also won medals at the European Championships (EM) in 2024, claiming bronze in the 50m breaststroke and freestyle relay, silver in javelin, and more.
His experience at the 2023 World Transplant Games (WTG) in Perth was unforgettable. Meeting fellow transplanted athletes from around the world and sharing stories of survival and success fueled his passion for sport and organ donation awareness. Now, he’s gearing up for WTG 2025 in Dresden, where he will compete in swimming events and javelin.
Robert embodies the message of the World Transplant Games: through organ donation, lives can be transformed, and with determination, anything is possible. We are excited to have Robert as an ambassador, sharing his inspiring story and helping raise awareness for the importance of organ donation.
Catch Robert in action at WTG 2025, where he will be competing in swimming and javelin—proof of the amazing things a transplant can make possible!
You can find Robert’s full story in our Celebrate the Stories section.
Text: CitySportMarketing; Photos: Agentur Sender und Empfänger
