Watch: Aries Merritt wins first race since kidney transplant

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Olympic champion Aries Merritt won his first race since undergoing a kidney transplant in September as he took a 13.24-second victory in the 110-meter hurdles at the IAAF World Challenge Beijing on Wednesday.

On Sept. 1, he underwent a kidney transplant just four days after winning a bronze medal while operating on less than 20% kidney function at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

His time of 13.24 is a big step forward as he tries to make his second U.S. Olympic team. He will need to finish in the top three of the U.S. Olympic Trials in July.

Merritt is coming off a false start that disqualified him at the Shanghai Diamond League. He opened the season with a 13.61 at the Drake Relays and then lowered his mark to 13.37 at the Doha Diamond League.

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Watch his win below:

[youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzv3NNaqLlI]

Merritt won gold at the 2012 Olympics and then set the world record of 12.80 one month later in Brussels.

- Chris Chavez