A TALENTED squash player who battled back to health after undergoing a kidney transplant has won a gold medal at the World Transplant Games in Argentina.

It is one of a clutch of gold and silver medals won by Michael Gibbons, of Draughton, who is a member of Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, where he plays two or three times a week.

But the accomplished player says he has something even more precious – the gift of good health – thanks to his 76-year-old wife, Ann, who agreed to donate a kidney to him in December 2007.

Michael, now 79, was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure at the age of 50 and had spent two-and-a-half years on dialysis before the operation. He is now a strong advocate for organ transplantation and is urging people to become donors and make a difference to the lives of others.

“I feel so strongly about organ donation," he said. "I would say to people please sign up to the NHS donor register. It costs nothing but the result is priceless, the gift of life – maybe even your own. My health and my success at the games are directly as a result of my kidney transplant and of my donor’s sacrifice."

Ann added: “I had said to Michael from the start ‘you can have one of mine if it’s any good’, and although he was reluctant at first because he didn’t want to put me through an operation, I wore him down in the end!

“When, after years of being on the waiting list for a donor and nothing was forthcoming, he finally agreed to take my offer seriously and it was such a relief when we were told we were compatible.”

The operation changed his life, allowing him to continue with his passion for playing squash, as well as running – and leading to annual participation in a succession of Transplant Games competitions.

The first time he competed was in 2009, and since then he has been competing almost every year, winning a number of gold and silver medals for squash and running in the over-70s categories.

“My motives for entering the Transplant Games, like all transplant recipients, are to help demonstrate to the outside community how the gift of an organ can not only save a life but also restore self-assurance through exercise and athletic competition," said Michael.

He hopes to compete in next year’s British Transplant Games in Liverpool and he has not ruled out competing in the World Transplant Games in Spain in 2017.

Michael added: “I will be 81 then so we will have to see. But if I am feeling as fit as I do now, then why not?

"I will be forever indebted to the wonderful medical care I have received, which has allowed me to enjoy my sport. I cannot speak highly enough of the wonderful renal team."

Russell Roberts, a consultant nephrologist at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford, where Michael was treated, said: “Michael is inspiring. As long as I have known him, he has kept physically active – all through dialysis and after surgery. His first question after any major health event is always ‘how soon can I play squash again?’.

“His efforts now to promote organ donations are wonderful, and we are really appreciative of his efforts because the fact is the number of people waiting for life-saving or life-transforming transplants still outweighs the number of people on the organ donation register.”

There are currently 80 patients in the Bradford area waiting for a kidney transplant.

Call 0300 1232323 or go to organdonation.nhs.uk to find out more about joining the register.