Kristie Purton was told to stop competing by swimming and cycling officials worried for her safety at this month's Australian Transplant Games on the Gold Coast.

But giving up is not part of Kristie's make-up.

The 35-year-old lung transplant recipient, stroke survivor, Cystic Fibrosis sufferer and mother of three from Tauranga says she just ignored them and got on with it.

And that meant gaining the admiration of everyone at the Transplant Games.

Her courage and never-say-die attitude paid off, as she won eight medals in her age group, including four golds for swimming, triathlon and a 30km bike ride.

She took on a daunting swimming schedule of four Freestyle, Backstroke and Relay events, plus the triathlon, 30km road cycle and 5km run.

Just getting to the Games was a triumph in itself.

She was twice hospitalised for two weeks, leaving just a month to get prepared for the international event. Every minute competing on the Gold Coast was something to cherish, but Kristie has one particular highlight that will stay with her forever.

'The finish of the triathlon was unbelievable for me,” she says. 'It went through a retirement village and all the residents were out on the side of the road cheering me on and there was a mass haka for me at the finish.

'It was a brilliant feeling to be honoured like that.”

Greg Cummings, from Liz van Welie Aquatics, played a key part in Kristie getting to the Gold Coast to compete. He helped raise $4000 for the trip and also coached her through the fine tuning before she left.

Kristie was a swim coach at Liz van Wellie before she had her life changing lung transplant. Greg was staggered at how determined she was to make the tournament - particularly after being so sick prior to leaving.

'We are all so proud of her, and the way she refused to give in to being sick and the way she trained to the extent of turning blue with oxygen deprivation,” Greg says.

'No matter how sick she gets, she never complains or looks for an easy way out. She is an inspiration to everyone who knows here.”

Kristie and her younger sister Nikki Reynolds-Wilson were both born with cystic fibrosis that clogs the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Life expectancy is about 18 without a lung transplant.

Despite their challenges, they wanted to give back to the Tauranga community and raise awareness for cystic fibrosis. The 'Cystic Sisters”, as they became known nationally, completed two rounds of 65 days doing good deeds.

They paid parking fees, gave out supermarket vouchers and collected and delivered fruit to charity organisations such as the homeless shelter.

Truly, they are an inspiration to us all.