For Geldenhuys, the games are an opportunity to demonstrate not only physical strength but also the resilience and determination that organ transplant recipients around the world share. A kidney transplant recipient since 2016, he has successfully returned to competitive swimming and balances his professional life in South Africa’s financial sector with his passion for sport.
World Transplant Games – Where sport and organ donation meet
The World Transplant Games are more than just an international sporting event; they are a global platform to promote organ donation and demonstrate the life-changing opportunities it creates. Held every two years under the auspices of the World Transplant Games Federation, the event highlights the physical achievements of transplant recipients and honours organ donors and their families.
For the first time in the history of the games, Germany will play host, with Dresden welcoming athletes and supporters from across the globe. The city’s rich cultural heritage, iconic architecture, and welcoming atmosphere will provide an inspiring backdrop for competitions in 17 different sports, ranging from swimming and track&field to cycling and team sports.
An inspiring journey from dialysis to the starting block
Jeandre Geldenhuys brings valuable experience to the competition. Before his diagnosis, he competed at national championships, Olympic trials, and a world championship held in South Africa. Following kidney failure in 2013 and a lengthy period on dialysis, his life was transformed by a successful kidney transplant in 2016 – a donation from his wife.
Today, Geldenhuys leads an active life and is dedicated to inspiring others through sport and storytelling. His return to competitive swimming reflects the core message of the World Transplant Games. At the 2025 games in Dresden, he looks forward not only to the competition but also to reconnecting with fellow transplant athletes he met at the 2019 World Transplant Games in Newcastle. The games offer participants the chance to build lifelong friendships, share personal stories, and celebrate achievements that go far beyond sport.
Dresden 2025 – A showcase for organ donation awareness
The World Transplant Games 2025 are set to be an unforgettable event, combining athletic performance with powerful messages about organ donation and second chances. The programme includes competitions in iconic locations across Dresden, a moving Opening Ceremony that pays tribute to organ donors and their families, and public events aimed at increasing awareness about the life-saving potential of organ transplants.
For transplant athletes like Jeandre Geldenhuys, participating in the games is not only about personal achievement but also about raising awareness and breaking down misconceptions. The World Transplant Games send a clear message: life after a transplant is not a limitation, but a second chance to thrive.
Text: Agentur Sender und Empfänger
