OU Professor honoured after rescuing drowning fellow transplant athlete

Professor Bart Rienties, a long-standing champion of transplant sport and a leading Open University (OU) researcher on physical activity among transplant recipients, has been honoured for saving a fellow athlete from drowning during the World Transplant Games triathlon this year. The OU academic, who is himself a transplant recipient, has competed in British, European and World Transplant Games events since 2015, achieving multiple national and international titles and demonstrating what transplanted individuals are capable of both physically and academically.

The incident occurred during the swim section of the race at around 100 metres into the lake. A female competitor began to panic after suffering severe cramp, so Bart, who was close by, abandoned his race to support her. He kept her afloat until fellow competitor Stijn Baes reached them, and together the two men held her safely above water while awaiting the arrival of rescue teams.

Professor Rienties described the experience as deeply emotional and overwhelming, noting that the intensity of the moment and the relief of seeing the woman taken to safety will stay with him for many years. Despite not seeking recognition, he was later awarded a prestigious medal from one of the Netherlands oldest national societies – the Koninklijke Maatschappij tot Redding van Drenkelingen (ie The Royal Society for the Saving of Drowning Victims) – an honour given only to a small number of citizens each year for acts of exceptional courage.

Professor Rienties’ ongoing research focuses on understanding how transplant recipients and those with long-term health conditions engage with physical activity, and why many are discouraged from exercising despite clear evidence that activity improves long-term health. His most recent paper on exercise and transplant recipients highlights both the transformative benefits of movement and the barriers many face, including cultural expectations, fear and medical caution. Professor Rienties’ work seeks to generate evidence that supports safer, more accessible opportunities for movement, while challenging assumptions about what people with long-term conditions can and cannot do.

Professor Rienties’ actions in Germany stand as a powerful symbol of the very message his research advocates. As a successful transplant athlete, European champion and dedicated researcher, he continues to demonstrate that transplant recipients are capable of extraordinary achievements. His experience underscores the importance of encouraging physical activity not only for health, but also for confidence, independence and community connection.