Helen Boyle

Helen Boyle was the daughter of T. Henry and Margaret (née Love) Boyle; her father was active in the local golf circles as a member of the executive of the Scottish Golf Union and secretary of the Cowglen Golf Club in Glasgow. She was talked of as an outstanding talent as a 15-year-old unknown in 1924, after turning in some excellent backstroke performances. A member of Glasgow Victoria Baths she secured a place on the British squad for the Paris Olympics after finishing second to Ellen King in the 100 metres back in the Olympic trial at Blackpool. Unfortunately she could only finish third in her heat at the Games, in which only the first two qualified.

A few months after the Olympics, Boyle again finished second to King in the Scottish Backstroke Championship and third in the McKenzie Cup competition, coming to be known as the top woman backstroker in Scotland, but had largely retired from competition by 1928. In 1934 at Glasgow, Boyle married Thomas Catten, an engineer, and shortly thereafter emigrated to London where she had a daughter. She continued to reside in Surrey until her death in 1970.