Sharron Davies paid tribute to Smart, who competed for Team GB in several international swimming events
Former Great Britain swimmer Helen Smart has died suddenly at the age of 43.
Smart, who was a backstroke specialist and competed under her maiden name Don-Duncan, represented Team GB at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and also won medals at the World and European Championships as well as the Commonwealth Games.
She retired from competitive swimming following the Olympic Games 23 years ago and pursued a career in teaching, becoming the headteacher of Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School in Wigan.
Craig Smart, Helen’s husband, said that his wife had “loved the school, staff, children and parents so much” and was “so proud to reach her goal” of becoming a headteacher.