Highcliffe’s Taylor beats “arch rival” and storms to triple European Transplant Sport Championships gold in Lisbon, Portugal
TEAM GB and Highcliffe local Vince Taylor won gold in three track and field events at this year’s European Transplant Sport Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
The proud father, who received a kidney transplant 16 years ago in 2008 by live donation, stormed to 100m gold before adding the long jump and 200m titles to his ever-growing collection.
The 100m victory was all the sweeter for 62-year-old Taylor after defeating someone he views as his “arch rival”.
He said: “I was up against my arch-rival, a really good Polish athlete, Andrzej Haj, who beat me in the World Transplant Games in Australia.
“I had my daughter with me, who was a fantastic support, but obviously I wanted to do well, so there was a bit more pressure.
“It was as competitive as ever, but I managed to beat him this time!”
The multiple-time world champion, who trains at Bournemouth Athletic Club, won the 100m final with a season’s best time of 13.3 seconds before claiming long jump gold in the afternoon. He followed that up with another season’s best, this time in the 200m final, in 28.4.
He added: “I was very honoured and pleased to represent Team GB & Northern Ireland again.
“To be part of 700 athletes from 25 different European countries was truly amazing, and I was lucky to have my number one supporter there with me, my daughter Ella.
“It was as competitive as ever, and I am very lucky that I now get to enjoy a very healthy and full life. I am fitter in my 60s than I was in my 30s, thanks to what we call in transplant circles, the gift of life.”
Taylor was not the only Team GB & Northern Ireland athlete to do well in the scorching Lisbon heat, with the team winning the best team trophy and the heart/lung trophy, bringing home 211 medals – 139 golds, 67 silvers and 15 bronzes.
Taylor concluded by saying: “My message is that organ donation saves lives, so please share your wishes with your family and friends.”
Team GB was the largest team taking part, with 70 competitors, which included heart, lung, kidney, pancreas, liver and stem cell transplants, six juniors and a couple of live donors.
The European Transplant Sport Championships (ETSC) is a joint event brought together by the European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Federation (ETDSF) and the European Heart and Lung Transplant Federation (EHLTF).
