Three medals for Lewis

Saturday 13 August 2011

Cardiff athlete Lewis Akrill (17) who is coached by Peter Lane has just returned from the World Kidney Transplant Games in Gothenburg with two golds and a silver medal.

Lewis (pictured being congratulated by the Mayor of Caerphilly, Cllr Vera Jenkins) won the 100m and the ball throwing competition and came second in the Long Jump.

Lewis received his new kidney seven years ago from his mother Tracy and was determined that this setback would not stop his sporting ambitions. He has already competed in six British transplant games and won four gold medals (100m, 200m, long jump and ball throw) at last year's event.

Cllr Jenkins said: “Lewis is an inspiration and I was delighted to invite him to Penallta House to formally acknowledge his medal success. He is a shining example of a young person who has triumphed in the face of adversity and I’m sure he will go on to great things in the future.”

His attitude is that life after a transplant is not all doom and gloom and that if you want to do something you can do it. Lewis has always wanted to represent Britain and has achieved his goal. His parents, Tracy and Jonathan, are extremely proud of him. His next ambition is to qualify for the Special Olympic Games in South Africa.

He has also been nominated by several people to carry the Olympic flame next year. Mother Tracy says that he is really excited and knows that he's got a lot of competition; but that if he was chosen it would be just amazing.

Many congratulations to Lewis.