Joyce Smith

Joyce Smith
MBE
Personal information
NationalityBritish (English)
Born (1937-10-26) 26 October 1937
Stoke Newington, England
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight52 kg (115 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)1500 metres
3000 metres
marathon
ClubBarnet and District AC

Joyce Esther Smith MBE (née Byatt, born 26 October 1937) is a British former long-distance runner. She broke the world record in the 3000 metres in 1971 and is a three-time medallist at the International/World Cross Country Championships, including winning in 1972. She went on to twice win the London Marathon, becoming the first British woman in history to run under 2:30 when winning in 1981 with 2:29:57, before further improving the British record to 2:29:43 when winning in 1982. She also competed in the 1500 metres at the 1972 Munich Olympics and finished 11th in the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, aged 46.