Helen Don-Duncan Explained

Helen Don-Duncan
Birth Date:9 June 1981
Birth Place:Wigan, England
Height:1.65m (05.41feet)
Weight:56kg (123lb)
Spouse:Craig Smart
Show-Medals:yes

Helen Smart (nee Don-Duncan; 9 June 1981 – 12 August 2023)[1] was an English competitive swimmer and backstroke specialist.[2]

Swimming career

Don-Duncan represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA world championships, and European championships, and swam for England in the Commonwealth Games. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, she came 15th in the women's 200-metre backstroke.[3]

Don-Duncan represented England and won a bronze medal in the 200 backstroke metres event, at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[4] [5] [6]

At the ASA National British Championships, she won four consecutive 200 metres backstroke titles (in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000).[7] [8] [9] [10]

Post-swimming career

After retiring from competitive swimming following the Sydney Olympics, Don-Duncan moved into education, becoming the headteacher of Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School in Wigan, a position she held for the rest of her life.[11]

Personal life

Don-Duncan was married and had two children.[12]

Death

Don-Duncan died on 12 August 2023, at the age of 42.[13] [14] The family had been on holiday in the Lake District.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Team GB Olympic swimmer Helen Smart dies aged 42 . 16 August 2023 . Sky News . en.
  2. Web site: Helen Don-Duncan . Olympedia . 13 August 2023.
  3. Web site: Olympic Profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418025422/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/do/helen-don-duncan-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. Sports Reference.
  4. Web site: 1998 Athletes. Team England.
  5. Web site: England team in 1998. Commonwealth Games Federation. 11 January 2020. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330125318/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3044/19/all. dead.
  6. Web site: Athletes and results. Commonwealth Games Federation.
  7. News: "For the Record." Times, 19 July 1997, p. 47. The Times. London. 19 July 1997 . 47 .
  8. News: "For the Record." Times, 11 July 1998, p. 40. The Times. 11 July 1998 . 40 .
  9. News: "For the Record." Times, 10 July 1999, p. 36. The Times. London. 10 July 1999 . 36 .
  10. News: "For the record." Times, 31 July 2000, p. ^. The Times. London. 31 July 2000 .
  11. Web site: Helen Smart: Former British Olympic swimmer dies aged 43 . . 16 August 2023.
  12. Web site: 'How could she simply go to sleep and never wake up?': Parents of Olympic swimmer pay tribute after her shock death . 2023-08-18 . LBC . en.
  13. Web site: Helen Don-Duncan . Olympedia . 14 August 2023.
  14. Web site: School headteacher and ex-Olympic swimmer Helen Smart dies, aged 42 . Manchester Evening News . 15 August 2023.
  15. Web site: 2023-08-17 . Team GB star was found dead by her four-year-old daughter . 2023-08-18 . Entertainment Daily . en-GB.

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