After suffering two sudden cardiac deaths and a number of severe health complications, 32-year-old Tamara Schwab's life was saved by a heart transplant . She has now vowed not to waste a single minute of her second stint at life — and is pushing herself to the limit to compete in the World Transplant Games. But can her body take it?
07:51Now I know the heart is good, everything is good. There's no problem or anything else.
07:58So I have a good feeling and I think it's very important to have this feeling.
08:02Back home Tamara's father is a bit worried about her participation in competitive sport.
08:14Is it good for the heart? That's the question.
08:18Yeah, of course, I'm not doing any extreme sports.
08:23But Tamara's resolve wins him over.
08:27She has shown tremendous strength. She's also grown from this whole thing.
08:36She's fit. I'm not worried anymore.
08:41I'm not worried anymore.
08:44In the evening, some friends come by and join her training for a bit of extra motivation.
08:50So when I'm on my bike and I ride 70 kilometers, I'm like, wow, this is possible with a new heart.
09:05I'm so thankful that I can do sports again because I had two cardiac arrests, one of them in the fitness studio.
09:14It challenged my mental health as well because I have this remember of the hard times and I go through it again and again when I'm on the bicycle.
09:27I like to challenge me.
09:31After practice, it's time for a pint. Tamara's friends will cheer her on at the World Transplant Games in Dresden.
09:40The East German city is hosting athletes from 51 countries competing in events including cycling, swimming and triathlon.
09:49Before race day, Tamara decides to check out the racetrack. Cycling also helps her reflect on the changes she has made in her post-transplant life.
10:02I think what changed a lot is that I live more intensely.
10:07I decide I do things now and not later.
10:11I decided that I won't work at my old job for five days a week.
10:18I decided it will be just three days.
10:22My decisions are more decided from my heart and not from my brain.
10:33It's finally the moment Tamara has been waiting for. Will her heart hold up?
10:48She takes an early lead but this will be a test of stamina.
10:54Tamara can't push her heart beyond a certain limit.
11:01And it's very close at the end. Tamara finishes fourth, just seven seconds shy of the bronze medal.
11:07Four years after her heart beat for the first time inside her body.
11:22This was one of my very first races after my heart transplantation.
11:27And I never thought that this will be possible, that I can push my body, my heart in this way.
11:40I had so many good feelings in me.
11:42I was in a limit, so I had a rate of 135 and I can't go higher.
11:52Just the last 100m decided who will be the first, the second, the third and the fourth.
11:58Next time, I hope, I wriggle the bronze.
12:02Maybe gold.
12:04Or maybe gold, we will see.
12:06I have two years now for training.
12:08In the evening, it's time to celebrate second chances and progress.
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