Australian Triathlete Races Her Way to Silver After 2013 Heart and Double-Lung Transplant

Kate Phillips has a lot of heart – it's just not her own.

The Brisbane, Australia resident completed her seventh triathlon on Saturday – just three years after receiving a life-changing heart and double lung transplant.

"To tell you the truth, my life is about a billion times easier since my transplant," she tells PEOPLE. "What I can do now by far outweighs my life before."

Phillips was born with congenital heart disease, and shortly after diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries which causes pressure on the right side of the heart, she says.



At 10 months old, Phillips underwent open heart surgery to correct the hole in her heart, and doctors put in a pacemaker to help control her heart rhythms.

"I was fortunate enough to go on to live a relatively normal childhood," she says. "I never knew any different. Despite having regular checkups to monitor my heart, I was extremely lucky to have the childhood I had."

When Phillips reached her teenage years, however, her heart's stability decreased. The now-31-year-old was frequently ill, and, at 16, caught a glandular virus that weakened her heart.

Subsequently, the symptoms of Phillips' pulmonary hypertension returned. And, at 23, the landscape architect suffered a cardiac arrest while at a standard outpatient appointment.

Her pacemaker was removed, and replaced with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, which is a a battery-powered device placed under the skin that keeps track of heart rate.

It soon became clear a transplant would be necessary, and Phillips started the "rigorous" Australian approval process.

After numerous assessments to insure that Phillips' current treatment was no longer an option, but her body was "strong enough" to get through the surgery, specialists voted that she was a good candidate for a new heart and lungs.

"Once I was listed for transplant [after the assessment process], my condition immediately deteriorated," Phillips tells PEOPLE. "I spent a few weeks in ICU right before and after my transplant, which took a toll on my body."

In 2013, Phillips underwent her transplant. Her recovery was slow at first.

"I started out by walking twice a day to build the strength back in my legs, then I learned to run, as before transplant I could never run for more than 200 meters at a time without passing out," she explains. "And after 3 months I was able to get back into the pool – swimming was my way to stay as fit and healthy as possible before transplant, so this was a big step for me."

Her transition to the big leagues took time. After years of watching her husband, brother and friends complete in triathlons, she became inspired by "the discipline it requires just to get to the start line."

"I spent the first two years after my transplant building my fitness and strength and also confidence in events such as the Transplant Games, running and cycling events," she says. "Once I felt ready I joined a triathlon club and have trained with them ever since."

Over the weekend, Phillips nabbed silver in the triathlon at the Australian Transplant Games. She also took gold in the 5km run, and three gold, one silver and two bronze medals in five individual and two team relay swimming events. The Transplant Games are a week-long series of events for athletes that have been recipients of organ or tissue transplants.

Prior to the Games, Phillips completed two Olympic triathlons and a half Ironman, as well as multiple cycling events and half marathons.

"I struggled a lot straight after my transplant to get my head around the fact that basically I could trust my new organs, and that the limits I had become very used to in the 27 years prior were no longer an issue," she explains. "But the doctors are very supportive and encouraging of being so active as it's very best thing I can do for my new organs."

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Next, Phillips will participate in the Noosa Triathlon in Queensland at the end of October.

"Each year for my transplant anniversary I set myself a fitness goal, so next year I have my sights set on a full marathon, she says, "and then will build towards the massive goal of completing a full Ironman at the end of 2017."