Peter Tišler: A Second Chance, A Life of Sport

Nine years ago, Peter Tišler received a combined pancreas and kidney transplant, a rare procedure with fewer than 20 cases in Slovenia. The date was Friday the 13th, which for Peter became not unlucky, but the happiest and luckiest day of his life.

From the age of eight, Peter lived with type 1 diabetes, relying on insulin. When his kidneys failed, he faced dialysis and the collapse of the life he knew. With the help of skilled medical staff, he was given a second chance: a transplant that transformed his future.

🏅 Returning to Sport

After recovery, Peter slowly returned to sport, and before long he was competing once more. His dedication grew into leadership. By 2024, he had become leader and team manager of the Slovenian Transplant Team and the official representative of Slovenia within the World Transplant Games Federation.

At the European Championships in Lisbon 2024, Peter guided a small Slovenian team of just 8 athletes to incredible success:
🥇 3 Gold medals
🥈 3 Silver medals
🥉 3 Bronze medals
🏅 2 Fourth-place finishes

Peter himself competed in athletics, showing that transplants don’t just restore life, they reignite it.

🌍 Looking Ahead

In 2025, Peter proudly led the Slovenian national team to the World Transplant Games in Dresden, competing once again as both manager and athlete.

💚 A Life of Gratitude

For Peter, every day is a gift.

“The transplant changed my life a lot. I am grateful for every day that is given to me, because I have been given a new chance to live. I am also grateful to the organ donor, because of his selfless decision I can live.”

Peter’s guiding belief is simple but powerful:
👉 “Organ donation is the highest possible help you can give to a fellow human being.”