SPORTSWOMAN and transplant patient Wendy Sincock from Spreyton has won two gold medals in the Chinese Transplant Games 2010 — and made the front pages at home and abroad.

Mrs Sincock was one of two transplant patients who attended the games which were held in Beijing between Monday, July 12 and Monday, July 19.

She is a member of the Exeter and District Transplant team and had a kidney transplant 12 years ago this October.

Wendy was accompanied by her husband, John, as well as transplant physician, Paul Harden from Oxford, who looks after kidney pancreas and small bowel transplant patients.

Wendy, 50, said: 'I really didn't expect to win. I competed with women aged 35 to 55, so with the younger women I didn't think I'd do so well.

'Anyone from Great Britain who has had a transplant was invited to participate in the games and it was such an honour to be a part of that.'

Mrs Sincock said she enjoyed plenty of training and sightseeing beforehand.

'We exercised well and hired a bike in Beijing; we also went to the Forbidden City and walked on the Great Wall of China.'

Wendy won gold in the 100 metres freestyle swimming front crawl and the 200 metres medley.

'We actually had an interpreter because no one could speak any English and it was difficult to find out when the races were.

'I had asked if the interpreter would put me into the 200 metres medley, which was 100 metres breast stroke, followed by 100 metres freestyle.

'I was so chuffed because I don't normally do breast stroke, due to a total hip replacement I had four or so years ago, so it was quite an achievement for me.'

Wendy, who has already won three gold medals and two silver medals at the 2009 British Transplant Games, said being the centre of attention made her feel like a celebrity: 'I was the only English female competitor, the rest were all Far Eastern — it was just me, there were no other Europeans at all.

'I have never had my photo taken so much in my life, as well as my husband, John. We must have had about 300 photos taken, it was continual — my face ached and I'm a smiley person!

'It really was amazing and they were so lovely, warm and welcoming.'

Mrs Sincock said the media attention she received was a bonus.

'They made such a fuss over us, it was unbelievable, incredible.

'When I finished my race there were TV crew and papers there — I was even on the front page of the China Daily, which is a national newspaper!'