'I had a double lung transplant then won silver'

Ms Makin said she was "very nervous and scared" before the transplant surgery in January 2020 because "it is a major operation and [puts] stress on the body".

After spending five weeks in hospital she had to isolate for nearly two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the additional challenges posed by this, though, Ms Makin was overjoyed by the results of the transplant.

"I could breathe normally again and do things like walking and swimming without having to stop every five minutes or so," she explained.

Because of the high risk of infection, she said she was unable to return to her former role as a nursery nurse.

Instead, she began volunteering for the hospital trust, which in turn led to her job in Blackburn.

"After my transplant I haven't been told not to do anything," Ms Makin said. "Just basically get on with life and enjoy it."

Because she had always enjoyed swimming and playing table tennis, she decided to enter the Transplant Games.