Fullname: | Gareth Duke |
Nationality: | Welsh |
Strokes: | Freestyle, breaststroke |
Coach: | Billy Pye |
Birth Date: | 18 June 1986 |
Birth Place: | Cwmbran, Wales |
Height: | 1.40m |
Weight: | 60kg |
Gareth Andrew Duke (born 18 June 1986) is a former Paralympic swimmer from Great Britain competing in S6 classification events.[1] Duke attended two Summer Paralympic Games winning gold in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. Duke has represented Britain at two IPC Swimming World Championships and has also held world records in several events. He is the cousin of para-athlete Kyron Duke.
Duke was born in Cwmbran in Wales in 1986. As well as having achondroplasia, Duke was born with Alport's syndrome, a kidney disease, and suffers from reducing hearing and asthma.[2] After suffering kidney failure he received a donor kidney in 2006 from his father, but when this failed Duke was forced to go on dialysis. He underwent another kidney transplant in 2010, receiving a kidney from his uncle, however the organ failed after about 16 months in July 2011, resulting in Duke retiring from swimming.[2]