Kathleen Smet

{{short description|Belgian triathlete}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Expand French|topic=bio|Kathleen Smet|date=July 2024}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Kathleen Smet

| image = Kathleen smet-1586502258.jpg

| caption = Smet (centre) in 2000, after winning the Zundert triathlon

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|01|19|df=y}}

| height =

| weight =

| hometown =

| country = Belgium

| club =

| pb =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{BEL}} }}

{{MedalSport | Women's triathlon}}

{{MedalCompetition|ITU Long Distance World Championships}}

{{MedalGold| 2005 Fredericia | Individual}}

{{MedalSilver| 2002 Nice | Individual}}

{{MedalCompetition|European Triathlon Championships}}

{{MedalGold| 2000 Stein |Individual}}

{{MedalGold| 2002 Győr |Individual}}

{{MedalSilver| 2001 Karlovy Vary |Individual}}

{{MedalBronze| 2003 Karlovy Vary |Individual}}

}}

Kathleen Smet (born 19 January 1970, in Beveren) is a Belgian former triathlete, becoming European champion in 2000 and 2002. She competed in Olympic and Long Distance Triathlons.

Smet competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She took sixteenth place with a total time of 2:04:05.98. Four years later, Smet again raced in the triathlon. This time, she placed fourth with a total time of 2:05:39.89.

In 2005, Smet won the gold medal at the World Championships and retired from the sport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf06122005_063|title=Vlaams Sportjuweel 2005 voor Kathleen Smet|language=nl|work=Het Nieuwsblad|date=6 December 2005|access-date=5 August 2024}} She ended her career by receiving the "Flemish Sportswoman of the Year" trophy during a ceremony at the Kaaitheater in Brussels, in recognition of her career and her final title. She worked for several years as a sports coordinator within the Belgian Triathlon League before resigning due to relational issues with the management and becoming a swimming instructor at the University of Leuven.