Kidney transplant recipient and Donor Games athlete Abigail Beckman-Green will represent Team USA at the 2025 World Transplant Games, held August 17–24 in Dresden, Germany, her second appearance at the global event.
Beckman-Green received her kidney transplant in August 2016 at the University of Michigan Transplant Center. Her aunt, Karen Green, donated her kidney after Beckman-Green’s kidney function began to deteriorate in her 20s. Despite the severity of her illness, Beckman-Green remained active throughout her transplant journey, even continuing to exercise when her kidney function dropped to critical levels.
Her athleticism and determination paid off in 2023, when she made her World Transplant Games debut and brought home five gold medals and one silver, setting five new world records in swimming. She also won her division in the Donor Games 1-Mile Swim Open in both 2024 and 2025, and earned a second-place finish in her age group at the US Masters National Swim Meet—an extraordinary feat for any athlete, let alone a transplant recipient.
“Finding my way back to swimming after transplant felt like coming home,” said Beckman-Green. “Competing as a transplant athlete is more than just medals—it’s a celebration of life, health, and the power of organ donation.”
The World Transplant Games, organized by the World Transplant Games Federation, are held every two years and bring together thousands of transplant recipients from more than 50 countries. The event showcases the physical triumphs made possible through organ donation and encourages individuals around the world to consider becoming donors.
Beckman-Green is proud to represent the Donor Games at this year’s event. The Donor Games, an initiative powered by the National Kidney Registry, give living donors and transplant recipients an opportunity to compete in athletic events while raising awareness about the lifesaving impact of living donation. Beckman-Green plans to wear Donor Games gear, share photos, and highlight the program throughout the Games on her social media channels.
“This is a chance not only to compete, but to shine a spotlight on the incredible generosity of living donors and the second chances they create,” she said.
To learn more about the Donor Games, visit www.donorgames.com.
To learn more about the World Transplant Games, visit www.worldtransplantgames.org.