The sweaty, puffing, heart-pounding hallmarks of a good work-out are off-putting for many Australians, but 18-year-old Jazz Cairns can't get enough.
"When my heart's beating, it used to be a scary thing. But now it's like, 'oh yeah, it can do this. I can run around; I can play basketball'," Jazz said.
Jazz has restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), a rare condition that causes the heart's muscle walls to become stiff.
As a result, the organ can't pump blood around the body properly.
Until a heart transplant four years ago, attending school was a struggle and any sort of physical activity, near impossible for Jazz.
Jazz Cairns, Ben Creasey, 18, and KC Herriman all competed at the Games this year. (ABC News: Toby Hunt)
"A school day felt so long, like I was sprinting constantly … I had to use an electric scooter to help me get around," he said.
"I couldn't play sport, I couldn't even walk up the stairs before … without getting super, super tired. And I slept so much."
Determined to make the most of his "second shot" after receiving his transplant, Jazz joined his Newcastle high school's basketball and volleyball teams as soon as he possible.
"A lot of my life is sport now," he said.
Events at the recent 17th Australian Transplant Games provide the school-leaver with a unique opportunity to take advantage of his "second shot".
Transplant Australia chief executive Chris Thomas says the games are a celebration of life. (ABC News: Emmy Groves)
"It's a celebration of life," Transplant Australia chief executive Chris Thomas said.
"It's an opportunity for transplant recipients to say, 'thank you' for the gift of life, to be as fit and active as possible, you know, around their transplanted organ, and to encourage all Australians to consider organ and tissue donation."
Consent rate for transplants still a concern
Data from Services Australia and DonateLife shows 7.7 million people are on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR) — around 36 per cent of the eligible population.
There are currently 1,800 Australians waiting for a lifesaving transplant, with a further 14,000 on dialysis who would benefit.
The Australian Transplant Games returned after a six-year break this year. (Supplied)
"The big concern for Transplant Australia is still the actual consent rate," Mr Thomas said.
"Almost one in two families are still declining donation at that critical point in time.
"People might say, you know, 'what's in it for me? why would I?' The reason is all these athletes…
"They're tangible proof of the benefits of donation."
Jazz agreed.
"For every single person here, it's changed their life," he said.
"Whether they're a recipient or family member … it's super, super amazing to see the impact that donors have."
Hundreds of competitors gather for Games
The 2024 Games, in Canberra, included 20 sport and competition events over five days.
More than 500 Australians – all either transplant recipients, living donors, or donor families — descended on the capital to represent their state or territory.
Basketball was among the many sports played at the games in Canberra this year. (ABC News: Emmy Groves)
They vied for a podium finish in everything from athletics, volleyball and swimming, to chess, sudoku, and lawn bowls.
The tournament is meant to be held every two years and had followed that schedule from the inaugural event in Melbourne, in 1988, to the Gold Coast Games in 2018.
A six-year pandemic-induced hiatus followed.
"It's been a great opportunity to get the band back together again, if you like," Mr Thomas said.
"Transplant recipients had to wrap themselves up in cotton wool and protect themselves [against COVID] so it's wonderful that they're able to get out again and just make the most of life."
Swimmers competing at the Transplant Games, which were held over five days. (Supplied)
For Jazz, the Games also provide "more of a competition".
"Obviously, when I'm playing sport [in Newcastle], I'm playing against people who haven't really experienced that kind of thing," he said.
"But when it's here … we have similar experiences; and you kind of understand each other.
"I've only had four years of doing sport … and a couple of the boys, one's [also] four and one's 10 … It just feels better playing against them because they can relate."
Esther Scott gained extra years of life after receiving a new liver and was the oldest competitor at the 2024 Games. (Supplied: Esther Scott)
At 82, Esther Scott was the Games' oldest competitor – and among the busiest.
She is the beneficiary of a liver transplant.
"I do lawn bowls, pétanque, ten-pin bowling, darts … and the five kilometre [DonateLife] walk tomorrow, if I'm still upright," she joked.
"I'm just so very, very grateful to whoever my donor family were, that I have had these 14 extra years of life.
"And I have been able to live them to the full."