Contents
Penny Heyns
Winning both women’s Olympic breaststroke events in 1996.
Atlanta double · Record-breaking season
- Born
- 8 November 1974
- Birthplace
- Springs, South Africa
More people
Penny Heyns
South African swimmer whose Atlanta double marked the country’s return to Olympic success after apartheid. She set world records across the breaststroke distances.
Early life
School swimming
Attended Amanzimtoti High School and developed as a swimmer in KwaZulu-Natal.
College opportunity
Studied and competed at the University of Nebraska in the United States.
Career
- 1992
First Olympics
Represented South Africa at its first Summer Games after readmission.
- 1993–2000
Training overseas
Developed her international career through training in the United States and Canada.
- 2001
Retirement
Left competitive swimming after three Olympic appearances.
Achievements
Atlanta double
Won the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke gold medals.
Record-breaking season
Set a succession of world records across breaststroke events.
Olympic bronze
Won another 100 m breaststroke medal in Sydney.
Beyond sport
Athlete representation
Served on the international swimming federation’s Athletes Commission.
Public speaking
Became a motivational speaker and wrote an autobiography.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Sport authority — career and achievements ↗South African History Online ↗Photo: Save the Dream from Doha, Qatar. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
