Gareth Duke

Gareth Duke (born 18 June 1986) is a former Paralympic swimmer from Great Britain competing in S6 classification events.[1] Duke attended two Summer Paralympic Games winning gold in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. Duke has represented Britain at two IPC Swimming World Championships and has also held world records in several events. He is the cousin of para-athlete Kyron Duke.[2]

Gareth Duke

Personal information
Full name	Gareth Duke
Nationality	Welsh
Born	18 June 1986 Cwmbran, Wales
Height	1.40 m (4 ft 7 in)
Weight	60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, breaststroke
Coach	Billy Pye
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Paralympic Games 1 1 1 World Championships 1 1 3 European Championships 0 0 0 Swimming Representing  Ukraine Paralympic Games 2004 Athens 100m breastroke - SB6 2008 Beijing 100 metre breastroke - SB6 2008 Beijing 4x50m freestyle relay - 20pts IPC World Championships 2006 Durban 100m breaststroke - SB6 2002 Mar del Plata 100m breaststroke - SB5 2002 Mar del Plata 4x50m Freestyle Relay 20 Pts 2006 Durban 200m medley - SM6 2006 Durban 4x50m Freestyle Medley 20 Pts

Personal history

Duke was born in Cwmbran in Wales in 1986. As well as having achondroplasia, Duke was born with Alport's syndrome, a kidney disease, and suffers from reducing hearing and asthma.[2] After suffering kidney failure he received a donor kidney in 2006 from his father, but when this failed Duke was forced to go on dialysis. He underwent another kidney transplant in 2010, receiving a kidney from his uncle, however the organ failed after about 16 months in July 2011, resulting in Duke retiring from swimming.[2]

References

1. "Duke, Gareth". ipc.infostradasports.com. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
2. Sanders, Alison (27 August 2012). "Gwent Paralympian forced to quit". www.southwalesargus.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2013.