A teenager who underwent a kidney transplant four years ago has won two medals at the British Transplant Games.

Jonathan Bowman's kidneys failed after he contracted E-coli during a nursery trip to a farm at the age of four.

His mum Stephanie offered him the chance of a new life and donated one of her kidneys. And now after his sporting success Jonathan has set his sights on competing for his country in the 2007 World Transplant Games in Bangkok.

"I couldn't do any sports at school," said Jonathan, 19, of Royd Wood, Cleckheaton, now a student at Leeds University.

"I would get out of breath just walking up the stairs. It made such a difference after the transplant.

"The Games just show that even though you've had a transplant you can do all these difficult sporting events. It can be as serious and competitive as you like."

He competed alongside other transplantees in the games held at Lough-borough and Leicester, winning a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke and a silver at the high jump. He was part of the Leeds team after having the transplant operation at St James's Hospital.

"I've been training for the swimming and race walk at Spenborough Pool and along the Spen Valley Greenway," he said. "The high jump was a bit more difficult though, but I did better than expected."

Mum Stephanie Bowman is proud.

"The wonderful thing about the transplant games is that people who've had a second chance of life are able to compete thanks to the many families who agreed for organs to be donated. Many of the donors' relatives attend the games, too."

Mrs Bowman encourages people to become donors in the event of their death and for more people to carry donor cards.