Winning medals secondary to C.R. swimmer Klahn

Bill Klahn of Cedar Rapids has won many medals during a long athletics career, but maybe none bigger than his latest.

Klahn recently returned from Gutenberg, Sweden, where he won a gold medal and four silvers at the World Transplant Games. The Olympic-style games, he said, are an annual event to show transplant recipients cannot only survive, but also compete.

 "We have all gotten a second chance at life," he said. "Every one of us is a winner, regardless of who takes home a medal."

 Klahn, 57, received a liver transplant in 2005. He dedicated his 50-meter breaststroke swimming gold to a special person.

 "I trained extensively to win gold for the mother of my donor," he said. "I was proud to be able to do that."

 Klahn finished second in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200 individual medley and was a member of the Team USA medley relay that took silver.

 "It really is jaw-dropping to watch what transplant survivors can do," he said.

 The winning is nice, Klahn said, but it's only part of the story.

 "Every 86 minutes, someone dies while waiting for a transplant," he said. "This event is about raising awareness of organ donation. Winning championships is my way of trying to get the word out. One person donating can save up to eight lives and improve the quality of life for up to 20 people.

 "Our goal is to increase awareness, and get more people signed up as organ donors."