As Helen Barnett, she competed in the women's 400 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics. She represented England in the 200 metres event, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Four years later she represented England in the 400 metres event, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. She married the Swiss sprinter Stefan Burkart in 1986, and went on to represent Switzerland at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the women's 4 × 400 metres relay.