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Published on 08/17/1998 All articles from this issue

Local athlete strikes gold in U.S. Transplant Games

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By Vincent Tsai

Town Crier Editorial Intern

For Los Altos resident Nancy Lonhart, simply competing in the U.S. Transplant Games is a celebration of life.

But Lonhart didn't just celebrate. The 39-year-old claimed gold medals in all four events she entered: the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs and the long jump.

Most people wouldn't associate Olympic-style competition with organ transplant patients. They might imagine someone weak and feeble, too frail to undergo any type of strenuous athletic ability. However, Lonhart - who received a kidney transplant from her brother - disproves this way of thinking.

"The competition just shows that we don't allow the transplants to hinder us in any way," she said. "We show the outside world that is not very aware about the transplant community that we are indeed doing quite well."

Lonhart joined 1,500 other transplant athletes representing 50 state teams at the biennial 1998 U.S. Transplant Games, an Olympic-style event that took place in Columbus, Ohio Aug. 5-8. Lonhart was a member of the Northern California team, which competed in 14 different sports including track and field, swimming and bicycling. Lonhart chose to focus on track because of her lifetime attraction to the sport.

"I've always loved to run. Ever since I was a little girl, I would run miles every day," she said. "Running is part of my life, and this transplant certainly has not stopped me."

In addition to finishing first in her age division in four events, Lonhart also was named Best Female Athlete for her overall performance at the games.

Lonhart has become such a strong supporter of transplantation that she's set up a fund in her name at the Bank of Los Altos where the public and donor families can donate money for transplants.

"Organ donation is critically needed in our community today," said Lonhart, a mother of two. "There are many people on the waiting list for organ transplants, and we can't let this trend continue."

Above her support for transplants, Lonhart feels she has gained an invaluable perspective from her experience.

"There are some things in life that are inevitable. But it is through these toughest times that we must garner up our courage to succeed," Lonhart said.

That's why Lonhart has a particular fondness for all those who were fortunate enough to attend the Transplant Games. Rather than viewing the event as a gritty, hard-nosed competition, she sees it as a wonderful gathering that celebrates life.

"The event calls attention to the special gift of organ donation," Lonhart said. "In life, even though we experience occasional drawbacks, no one and nothing can stop up from reaching our dreams. All we need is a little effort."