The world of sports has been struck with grief and sorrow as we mourn the passing of Helen Smart, a former British Olympic swimmer who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 43.
Helen Smart had an impressive career as a swimmer before becoming a teacher.
She won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 1998, and went on to win silver medals for both the World and European Championships.
In 2000, she represented Great Britain in the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia where she finished 15th in 200m backstroke event.
Helen was found unresponsive by her four-year-old daughter Heidi when she went to check up on her one morning.
Her mother Linda recalled touching her foot and knowing that she was gone upon feeling how cold it was.
Linda also noted that Helen never showed any signs of being ill prior to this sudden passing.
This news came completely out of left field for Helen’s family who were staying at a cottage near Lake Coniston right around this time; they have expressed disbelief over what happened since then.
John Don-Duncan, Helen’s father, took to social media after his daughter’s death to share his heartache and pay tribute to his late daughter: “Helen was our pride and joy…we are so proud of her…she lit up a room as soon as she arrived…Linda and I can’t comprehend how she could just simply go to sleep and not wake up?!”
Similarly, Craig Smart – husband of the deceased – paid tribute via Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School’s Facebook page: “She loved the school, staff, children and parents so much…She used to say all the time that she could never see herself at another school.”
He concluded by urging everyone keep learning like champions while living their best life without regrets, taking lots of photos and making memories just like his beloved wife did herself.
It is with great sadness that we remember such an accomplished athlete taken too soon from us under tragic circumstances.
