Helen Don-Duncan

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

Helen Don-Duncan

Personal information
National team	Great Britain
Born	(1981-06-09)9 June 1981 Wigan, England
Died	12 August 2023(2023-08-12) (aged 42)
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	56 kg (123 lb; 8.8 st)
Spouse	Craig Smart
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  Great Britain World Championships (SC) 1999 Hong Kong 200 m backstroke European Championships (SC) 1998 Sheffield 200 m backstroke Representing  England Commonwealth Games 1998 Kuala Lumpur 200 m backstroke

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]

References

1. "Former Team GB Olympic swimmer Helen Smart dies aged 42". Sky News. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
2. "Helen Don-Duncan". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
3. . Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
4. "1998 Athletes". Team England.
5. "England team in 1998". Commonwealth Games Federation.
6. "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
7. ""For the Record." Times, 19 July 1997, p. 47". The Times. London. 19 July 1997. p. 47.
8. ""For the Record." Times, 11 July 1998, p. 40". The Times. 11 July 1998. p. 40.
9. ""For the Record." Times, 10 July 1999, p. 36". The Times. London. 10 July 1999. p. 36.
10. ""For the record." Times, 31 July 2000, p. ^". The Times. London. 31 July 2000.
11. "Helen Smart: Former British Olympic swimmer dies aged 43". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
12. "'How could she simply go to sleep and never wake up?': Parents of Olympic swimmer pay tribute after her shock death". LBC. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
13. "Helen Don-Duncan". Olympedia. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
14. "School headteacher and ex-Olympic swimmer Helen Smart dies, aged 42". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
15. "Team GB star was found dead by her four-year-old daughter". Entertainment Daily. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.