Transplant Games 2026 Recap

Sixteen Donor Games athletes took center stage on the opening day of the 2026 Transplant Games, which saw a record-breaking 12,000 people in attendance. The group showcased their elite fitness as part of the Donor Games Heavy Murph Showcase. Competing in the Heavy Murph workout – honoring Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy – athletes completed as many reps as possible of 2 rope climbs, 20 alternating dumbbell shoulder presses, 30 rear foot elevated split squats, and 40 sit-ups – kidney and liver donors, along with transplant recipients from across the country, demonstrated that organ donation does not hinder human performance.

The women’s heat of the Heavy Murph Showcase was twenty minutes of relentless effort from start to finish. Every athlete came out fast, but it was Danielle Fiorito who found another gear when it mattered most. Her 610 reps edged out Courtney Cox by just two rope climb reps. For the hundreds of spectators watching, Danielle’s performance was truly inspirational, showing what was possible just five months after her transplant. Check out the entire Women’s leaderboard from the Heavy Murph Showcase below:

The men’s heat was a hard-fought battle, eventually grinded out by Donor Games rookie Hunter Lydon. Hunter’s 424 rep performance was good enough to outlast two elite liver donors in Blair Casey (413 reps) and Tommy Sullivan (410 reps). Check out the entire Men’s leaderboard from the Heavy Murph Showcase below:

Athlete Testimonies

“The Donor Games creates a platform for organ donors and recipients to show that there is strength in living donation,” said Mimi Mahon, Director of the Donor Games. “It’s a group of people brought together by a common commitment to break barriers, dispel misconceptions, and demonstrate that they get stronger every year.  By collecting data on human performance, the Donor Games and the National Kidney Registry can effectively measure how athletes who have donated organs can compete alongside anyone else.”

“When I donated a kidney in 2018, my doctor told me it was the end of my athletic career. The Donor Games helped me prove otherwise, and allowed me to return to a part of my life that I thought I had lost,” said Eric Walano, Donor Games athlete and 2025 Champion. “Displaying to the public that living donors can still compete at the highest levels has been a driving force behind my motivation.”

The Donor Games Heavy Murph Showcase was followed by a Community Murph open to all interested athletes. Dozens of Transplant Games athletes participated and were even joined by some Donor Games athletes who weren’t quite done competing! A special shoutout to Adam Cozzette and Daniel Felts for completing the entire Murph workout with Kara Cain, Roni Hays, and Mimi Mahon getting some additional reps in!

Thank you to all participating Donor Games athletes and to the Transplant Games of America for making the Heavy Murph Showcase possible at the 2026 Transplant Games.

Heavy Murph Showcase Gallery

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About the Transplant Games of America

For more than 33 years, the Transplant Games of America have brought together people whose lives have been shaped by organ, eye, and tissue donation. This six-day event includes transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, individuals waiting for transplant, and the professionals who support the donation and transplant process, along with caregivers, supporters, and community members.

The Games featured more than 20 athletic competitions for thousands of organ recipients and living donors, along with over 60 special events that honor donor families, share personal stories, and provide opportunities to learn and connect.

From June 18 to 23, 2026, Denver hosted the Transplant Games, welcoming participants from across the country and around the world in more than 40 TGA Teams. Events range from swimming and track to pickleball, darts, and ballroom dancing. Beyond competition, the Games support education, community-building, and advocacy efforts across the donation and transplant field.