The Living Donor Support Foundation (LDSF) sponsored kidney transplant recipient and Donor Games athlete Danielle Fiorito to compete at the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, where she earned two major honors: Women’s MVP and the Golden Boot, awarded for her scoring performance.
The Transplant Football World Cup brought together transplant recipients from around the world for a week of international soccer competition that took place September 13–18, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany. Danielle competed on both the USA women’s and men’s teams.
“It was awesome being able to represent the USA, women, and what’s possible after transplant all at once,” said Danielle. “A lot of people were kind of taken aback by my story because it’s only been eight months since my transplant. In Europe, they don’t let you compete until you’re a year out.”
“I never really thought I was special or different because of what I was going through—it’s kind of been my life since I was 20. This experience made me realize that I am actually pushing my body further than most people think they could, let alone people who have received a transplant.”
Danielle, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, received a kidney transplant on January 12, 2026. Her mother was her donor. Before her transplant, she was a collegiate soccer player and competitive CrossFit athlete. While on dialysis, she continued to train for two hours each day and began competing in Donor Games events. In 2025, she tied for second place in the 2025 Donor Games Championship.
Danielle now works as a speed and strength coach for high school, college, and professional athletes. Through her athletic journey, she hopes to show other people facing kidney failure that dialysis and transplantation do not have to prevent them from staying active and pursuing their goals.
About the Living Donor Support Foundation
The Living Donor Support Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting living kidney donors and raising awareness about living donation. Through programs including the Donor Games and sponsored athletes, LDSF showcases the health, fitness, and achievements of living donors and transplant recipients while helping raise awareness about living donation.
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