Sean Cunningham, Narrandera Argus

Coolamon man Andrew Veigel has returned with a swag of medals from one of Australia’s most inspirational sporting events.

Veigel won six medals, representing NSW in four different sports, during this year’s 17th Australian Transplant Games, in Canberra last week.

The talented all-round sportsman was eligible to compete in the Games as he had a kidney transplant in 2017, after receiving dialysis for five years previously.

“I represented NSW in ten pin bowling and won a silver medal in the men’s pairs and a bronze medal in the men singles,” Veigel said.

“I won a gold medal in the pétanque men’s single event and in darts I won a bronze medal in the men pairs and a bronze in the singles as well.

“I was the NSW team captain of the lawn bowls team and won a silver medal in the lawn bowls men’s singles and had a fantastic time meeting new transplant recipients at the game. It was nice to meet some new teammates attending their first games and catching up with some old friends.”

Veigel said he had been blown away with the “unbelievable” support he had received.

“I’m overwhelmed with appreciation from everyone who has donated or told me how proud they are of me to be competing,” he said. “

Also, my family for their help and support.”

Next on the agenda for Veigel is competing against the best transplant recipients on the world stage in Europe.

He said he was proud to have the chance to compete at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany, in August 2025.

“I’ve had great pride representing NSW and I’m excited to be representing Australia,” Veigel said.

“I’m very excited about competing and I’ll be playing petanque, ten pin bowling and darts there.”

Veigel has already plans in place to help fund his journey to the Games in Germany.

“Now my fundraising begins, it started last Friday (October 11) and will run every Friday night in October at the Coolamon Sport and Recreation Club,” he said.

“I have meat raffles every Friday night with meat donated by Liam of Coolamon Butchery and two six packs donated by the club.

“I’m also planning to have a golf day, trivia night, a mega raffle and a sports auction and am in the process of organising these events at the moment.”

Veigel’s medal tally included:

• Ten pin bowling: silver in men’s pairs
• Ten pin bowling: bronze in men’s singles
• Petanque: gold in men’s singles
• Darts: bronze in men’s pairs and bronze in men’s singles
• Lawn bowls: silver in men’s singles. 

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 17 October 2024.