When George Doutel says that everyone involved in sport is a winner then you sit up and take notice.

For while it is a phrase that is often taken lightly, George is referring to those who have been given a second chance in life thanks to a transplant.

He is talking about people who have shown the courage to battle back from major illness to just to say 'thank you' and not just win medals.

As far as George is concerned, it's not about record times, personal bests, medals and cups -- just get to the starting line and you are a winner in his eyes.

The fact that he has won medals is purely a bonus. What matters far more than gold, silver or bronze is awareness.

"Whether you come first or last it doesn't matter," said George who represented the Great Britain swimming team in the World Transplant Games. "For what you are doing is helping to promote what the Games is all about. That is far more important than any personal gain."

George would be the first to admit that he is competitive -- a competitive streak that guided him to national standard times as a youngster and five medals in the British Transplant Games in 2002.

But gratitude overrides that competitive nature especially as he knows he has been given a second chance.

George's world was turned upside down in 1996 when his severe headaches was not down to stress as first diagnosed but due to kidney failure.

"When the doctor got my tests back he was amazed to see me sitting in front of him. He called in a colleague for a second opinion and both agreed that by right I should have been in intensive care.

" I said that apart from my headache, I felt as fit as a fiddle."

The doctors took no chances and before he knew it he was on a dialysis machine -- something he would have to get used to for the following four years.

For George, it didn't end his swimming career because, competitively that finished long before.

Born in Guinea, George learnt to swim as a six-year-old while in his parents' native Portugal during civil unrest in Africa.

His father's swimming techniques left a lot to be desired but sink or swim would be an apt way of putting it.

"He used to tie a piece of rope around my stomach and drag me along in the pool. One day he let go of the rope and I was swimming on my own."

The Doutels returned to Guinea where George excelled as a swimmer and as an 18-year-old he achieved national standard times.

However, his parents decided that swimming was not for their son and so ended a promising career in the pool

"That was the end of it. In those days you did what you parents did."

George swapped the pool for a life in catering and ended up working on oil rings off the coast of Africa before travelling around the world on cruise ships.

It was on the cruise ships where George met his wife Deborah who is from Haydock. When the pair decided to swap life on the waves for firm ground, work brought them to Blackburn.

"I always kept up my swimming," recalls George. "But never at a competitive standard. I would go to the pool during shifts or on my day off."

George wasn't to realise the pool would play such a significant part in his life again.

For while in recuperation after his operation -- he had suffered two kidney rejections -- he was told about the British Transplant Games.

"The nurse manager mentioned the Transplant Games and asked if I would be interested. I was a bit hesitant at first because I was worried about what could happen to me. But I decided I would go and see how things went."

Despite his major surgery and major doubts, George got back in to the pool and promptly won three medals at the Games in 2001.

"Naturally, I was pleased for myself but more pleased with the fact that I had been able to do something for the Transplant Games.

"It is all about raising awareness and I like to think I played my part."

George returned a year later to compete in Loughborough and his two golds, two silvers and one bronze medals earned him an automatic place in the World Transplant Games.

"Meeting people at the British championships was excellent but meeting them at the worlds was exceptional."

George's hopes of success were dashed after picking up a shoulder injury in training. But typical of the man, he still competed -- not for himself but for the team who went on to win.

His feats in the pool earned him the acclaim of the Blackburn Sports Council who presented him with an award for his international achievements.

George dedicated it to nurse manager Jennifer Pickles at Accrington who helped him recovery from his operation.

Today, George concentrates his time of helping his daughter Paige in the pool.

The nine-year-old has already shown her talents in the pool. If she shows the same fighting spirit as her dad then she'll be a world beater.