Two inspirational young swimmers from Nexus Valley Swimming Club, Cerys O’Connell and Ffion Harris, delivered outstanding performances for Wales at the 2025 British Transplant Games in Oxford, bringing home an impressive haul of medals. The Games aim to showcase the life-changing benefits of transplantation, inspiring recipients to regain fitness while raising public awareness of the urgent need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donation Register and share their wishes with loved ones.
Cerys, 17, has been part of the Welsh swimming community since the age of seven, after undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant at just four years old. A former club captain at Nexus Valley, Cerys competed in her sixth British Transplant Games for Wales, securing two individual golds, two silvers, and a bronze in the relay.
Her talent and determination are already recognised on the global stage, having represented Great Britain at the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia two years ago, where she set world records and claimed multiple gold medals. Cerys was also awarded the Outstanding Junior Award for the Games.
Joining her in Oxford was 14-year-old Ffion Harris, who received a kidney transplant at age 10. Ffion also swims regularly at Nexus Valley Swimming Club, after returning to swimming post-transplant. In only her third British Transplant Games, Ffion impressed once again, earning one gold, three silvers, and a relay bronze for Wales.
The Games is a platform for transplant recipients and live donors to compete with others who have had similar life experiences. This meant that Cerys competed alongside her sister Megan, her bone marrow donor, while Ffion shared the pool with her father, her kidney donor.
Now, both Cerys and Ffion will turn their attention to representing Great Britain at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany, from 17–23 August, where they will compete against athletes from across the globe.
