WILMINGTON, N.C. - Former UNC Wilmington swimmer Brian Barndt has returned to the United States after collecting three silver medals and one bronze recently at the 2009 World Transplant Games in Brisbane, Australia.
Barndt, who competed for the Seahawks in 1987-88, survived a heart transplant four years ago, and now lives in Wake Forest, N.C. He was one of 80 athletes representing the United States in the 17th edition of the games, including three athletes - all swimmers - from North Carolina.
"I never imagined I would swim in a meet larger than the conference championships," said Barndt, who traveled with the Seahawks to the CAA Championships at the U.S. Naval Academy. "It was a miraculous experience to be competing on the other side of the world when I used to avoid going out of town for fear I would become sick and need hospitalization."
Barndt not only competed, but fared well at the 50-meter long course pool. He captured a silver in the 50 Backstroke (37.71), 100 Backstroke (1:24.1) and 4x50 Medley Relay (37.1 split) and brought home a bronze in the 400 Freestyle (6.04.00).
"Hitting the wall at the end of my 400 Meter Freestyle for a bronze medal was a terrific feeling. Just to imagine me, a heart transplant recipient, placing third in the world in my age division in a distance event was overwhelming."
The World Games are designed to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation, while demonstrating that transplant recipients can return to a high level of fitness and enjoy an enhanced quality of life. There are nearly 100,000 individuals on the waiting list for life-saving organ transplants in the United States.
Overall, more than 1,000 participants from 50 countries competed in 14 sports, ranging from swimming to cycling to badminton.
