About Helen Varcoe
Lived 1907 – 1995 (aged 88). Helen Varcoe was a British swimmer.
Helen Gradwell Varcoe (18 February 1907 – 7 May 1995), later known by her married name Helen Nicholls, was an English competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Varcoe won a bronze medal swimming the anchor leg for the British women's team in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, together with her teammates Joyce Cooper, Valerie Davies and Edna Hughes. The British women finished third with a time of 4:52.4, behind the Americans (4:38.0) and Dutch (4:47.5), and ahead of the Canadians (5:05.7).
Varcoe was born in Croydon, London, and died in Truro, Cornwall.
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Important facts
People in Helen Varcoe's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Helen Varcoe?
British swimmer, Olympic bronze medallist (1907-1995)
When was Helen Varcoe born?
Helen Varcoe was born on 18 February 1907 in Croydon.
When did Helen Varcoe die?
Helen Varcoe died on 7 May 1995 in Truro.
What was Helen Varcoe's occupation?
Helen Varcoe was a swimmer.
What nationality was Helen Varcoe?
Helen Varcoe was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Helen Varcoe. https://biography.guide/helen-varcoe/
MLA: "Helen Varcoe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/helen-varcoe/.
Chicago: "Helen Varcoe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/helen-varcoe/.
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