‘Achievements that no one thought were ever possible again’

Peter van Maurik used to be a fit man. He was a fanatical swimmer and worked as an officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy. Until an unknown heart disease slowly changed his life. Over nineteen years, his heart function steadily declined. At his lowest point, he ended up in intensive care. ‘In the end, I was in the intensive care unit on an emergency pump because my heart function was only 8 percent.’

A donor heart brought salvation, but it was a close call. ‘If it had lasted another two or three weeks, I probably wouldn't be here anymore.’ After the transplant, the recovery began. Three weeks later, he sat on the edge of his hospital bed and thought: what now?

The goal on the horizon

The answer came quickly. ‘I want to participate in the Transplant Games and become a world champion.’ The nurses' reaction was cautious: recover first. But for Van Maurik, it was clear. He had always been competitive, and discipline was in his system.

That goal, participating in the European Transplant Games, became his goal on the horizon. From that moment on, he worked toward it step by step. He slowly rebuilt his muscle strength and fitness. It didn't happen automatically, but the goal remained. Eventually, it led to participation in international competitions.

A victory with meaning

During the 2017 World Games, he reached the final of the 50-meter breaststroke. He touched the wall first. What followed stayed with him: ‘I jumped out of the pool, toward the stands where my wife was sitting. We looked at each other and both broke down. We knew what a deep hole I had been in, and look where I was standing now!’

The moment was symbolic of his entire journey. Not just sporting success, but especially the road to get there. His story is no exception during the Transplant Games. The event brings together more than a thousand athletes who have all received a donor organ or stem cells. They come from all over Europe and compete against each other in various disciplines.

What is winning?

Although it is a sports event, according to Van Maurik, it is not about winning in the classic sense. ‘You see people completely in tears because they finished seventh. Or because they reached the finish line at all. They deliver performances that no one thought were ever possible again.’

The real victory lies in the fact that people can participate again. That they learn to trust their bodies again and push boundaries that previously seemed unreachable.

That makes the European Transplant Games different from other sports events. The stories behind the performances are at least as important as the performances themselves.

More than just sports

The Transplant Games have existed since 1978. Initially, they were intended to show what organ donation makes possible and to encourage people to become donors. That goal is still relevant, but the meaning of the event has become broader. It shows what is possible after a transplant - not just surviving, but living. ‘You can not only become a bit like your old self, no, you can deliver performances at a top-sport level!’

That applies to a small group at an elite sports level, but the message is broader. It is about the fact that more is possible than many people think.

Small steps forward

Not everyone has to become an elite athlete. Van Maurik also emphasizes this. 'But we do know that setting a goal helps to implement a lifestyle change. The trick is: take small steps and keep going.'

For many people, it starts with getting moving again. After a period of illness, fitness is often gone and everything has to be rebuilt. By setting goals and moving forward step by step, space for recovery is created. This applies not only to elite athletes, but to everyone with a transplant or chronic condition.

Pure zest for life

What ultimately makes the Transplant Games special is the atmosphere. It is a combination of gratitude, willpower, and vulnerability. 'What you see there is pure zest for life.'

That makes an impression, not only on participants but also on healthcare professionals. It shows what their work leads to. During previous editions, Van Maurik saw how strong that impact can be. He spoke to a nurse who returns to the games every two years because it reminds her why she does this work.

That is why he calls on healthcare professionals to come and watch. Not just to see sports, but to experience what transplantation makes possible. Because anyone walking around there sees it everywhere: people who go further than they ever thought they could, and achieve performances that no one thought were still possible.

This article is from Transparant magazine (no. 97).
Curious about more stories and background? Read the full magazine here.