Medal haul at World Transplant Games for Jersey dentist

Friday 09 June 2023

A Jersey-based dentist – who suffered multiple organ failure giving birth to her daughter – has returned from her first World Transplant Games with two silver medals and a bronze.

36-year-old Louise Double was part of the Team GB swimming squad at the event in Perth, Australia.

She took silver in the 400m freestyle and relay freestyle, and bronze in the 200m freestyle.

Louise needed an emergency liver transplant shortly after giving birth to Amelia in 2018. She only took up swimming about two years ago but trained hard for the Games.

Last year, she took part in the British Transplant Games, where she won two of her four races, and was asked to join Team GB for Perth.

Now back in Jersey, she said: “I am very pleased I went. I got to meet a lot of people who have been doing this for many years, as well as others who were doing it for the first time.

Pictured: Louise won two silvers and a bronze at the World Transplant Games.

“When I was competing at the Brits, my goals were to tumble turn and dive properly, but this time I could focus on being more competitive and going for medals. I achieved PBs in all my events.”

There were 1,500 competitors at the Worlds, which had all the elements of an international event, including an opening ceremony and athletes’ village. 

She said: “It was a celebration of life and well as an opportunity to honour those who didn’t make it, with donors and their families there too. It was an emotional experience; there weren’t too many dry eyes in the arena.”

Louise is an ambassador and trustee for the Jersey Critical Care Survivors and also leads one of its support groups. In going to the Games, she raised money for the charity.

Anyone wishing to still support Louise can donate through her Gofundme page.