Denise Smith

Last updated

Denise Jacqueline Smith
MBE
Personal information
NationalityBritish
BornUnited Kingdom
Sport
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Sport Ice sledge speed racing
Medal record
Women's ice sledge speed racing
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Winter Paralympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Innsbruck 100 m - gr I
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Innsbruck 300 m - gr I
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Innsbruck 500 m - gr I
London Marathon
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1983 London Women's

Denise Jacqueline Smith MBE (1954-2020) was a British wheelchair athlete. A Paralympian and longtime wheelchair athlete, Smith won the inaugural London Marathon wheelchair race in a time of 4:29:03. [1] She competed in ice sledge speed racing at the 1984 Winter Paralympics and won three silver medals in the 100, 300, and 500 metre grade I events. [2]

Smith was the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 1990. [3]

Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1993 New Year Honours for service to sport for disabled people. [4]

References

  1. "1983 Race Report". London Marathon. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  2. "Denise Smith". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee.
  3. Myers, Rebecca (29 November 2020). "Denise Smith: The disability sport pioneer who fought back from polio and a car crash". The Times. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. UK list: "No. 53153". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1992. p. 16.