Penelope ("Penny") HeynsOIS (born 8 November 1974) is a South African former swimmer, who is best known for being the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events – at the 1996 AtlantaOlympic Games – making her South Africa's first post-apartheid Olympic gold medallist following South Africa's re-admission to the Games in 1992. Along with Australian champion Leisel Jones, Heyns is regarded as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers.[1][2]
Heyns was the youngest member of the South African Olympic team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She was also a member of the South African squad at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where she won a bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke event.
Heyns broke her first world record, the 100 m breaststroke, in Durban in March 1996. Heyns was again part of the South African Olympic team in Atlanta in 1996, where she won the gold medal for the 100 m breaststroke (also breaking the world record for the event) as well as the gold medal for the 200 m breaststroke (also breaking the Olympic record for the event). This made her the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events. During the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, Heyns set the 50 m breaststroke world record. In 1999, Heyns set a spate of eleven world records in three months, swimming at events on three different continents. This made her the simultaneous holder of five out of the possible six breaststroke world records, a feat that had never been achieved before in the history of swimming.
Heyns was named by Swimming World magazine as the Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1996 and 1999. She was also a member of the South African Olympic team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
Heyns retired from competitive swimming in 2001. In 2004 Heyns was an athlete's commission member of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). She is a businesswoman, motivational and public speaker, and television presenter. She has also completed an autobiography.
^"Today in History: Penny Heyns wins gold at 1996 Olympics". Roodepoort Northsider. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
^jonas (19 July 2012). "South African swimmer, Penny Heyns, wins a gold Medal at Atlanta Olympics". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
penelope, heyns, penelope, penny, heyns, born, november, 1974, south, african, former, swimmer, best, known, being, only, woman, history, olympic, games, have, both, breaststroke, events, 1996, atlanta, olympic, games, making, south, africa, first, post, apart. Penelope Penny Heyns OIS born 8 November 1974 is a South African former swimmer who is best known for being the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games making her South Africa s first post apartheid Olympic gold medallist following South Africa s re admission to the Games in 1992 Along with Australian champion Leisel Jones Heyns is regarded as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers 1 2 Penny HeynsPenelope Heyns in Times Square New York 2015 Personal informationFull namePenelope HeynsNicknamePennyNationality South AfricaBorn 1974 11 08 8 November 1974 age 49 Springs Transvaal now Gauteng Height5 ft 9 in 175 cm Weight139 lb 63 kg SportSportSwimmingStrokesbreaststrokeCollege teamUniversity of Nebraska USAMedal record Women s swimmingRepresenting South AfricaOlympic Games1996 Atlanta 100 m breaststroke1996 Atlanta 200 m breaststroke2000 Sydney 100 m breaststrokeWorld Championships SC 1999 Hong Kong 50 m breaststroke1999 Hong Kong 100 m breaststroke1999 Hong Kong 200 m breaststrokePan Pacific Championships1995 Atlanta 100 m breaststroke1999 Sydney 100 m breaststroke1999 Sydney 200 m breaststroke1995 Atlanta 200 m breaststroke1997 Fukuoka 100 m breaststrokeCommonwealth Games1994 Victoria 100 m breaststrokeGoodwill Games1998 New York 100 m breaststroke1998 New York 200 m breaststrokeSummer Universiade1995 Fukuoka 100 m breaststroke1995 Fukuoka 200 m breaststroke1997 Catania 100 m breaststrokeAll Africa Games1995 Harare 100 m breaststroke1995 Harare 200 m breaststroke1995 Harare 4 x 100 m medley1999 Johannesburg 100 m breaststroke1999 Johannesburg 200 m breaststroke1999 Johannesburg 4 x 100 m medley Contents 1 Sporting career 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksSporting career editHeyns was the youngest member of the South African Olympic team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona She was also a member of the South African squad at the 1994 Commonwealth Games where she won a bronze medal in the 200 m breaststroke event Heyns broke her first world record the 100 m breaststroke in Durban in March 1996 Heyns was again part of the South African Olympic team in Atlanta in 1996 where she won the gold medal for the 100 m breaststroke also breaking the world record for the event as well as the gold medal for the 200 m breaststroke also breaking the Olympic record for the event This made her the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events During the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York Heyns set the 50 m breaststroke world record In 1999 Heyns set a spate of eleven world records in three months swimming at events on three different continents This made her the simultaneous holder of five out of the possible six breaststroke world records a feat that had never been achieved before in the history of swimming Heyns was named by Swimming World magazine as the Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1996 and 1999 She was also a member of the South African Olympic team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney She won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke Heyns retired from competitive swimming in 2001 In 2004 Heyns was an athlete s commission member of the International Swimming Federation FINA She is a businesswoman motivational and public speaker and television presenter She has also completed an autobiography Heyns was voted 52nd in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004 She has an Olympic size swimming pool named after in the town of Sasolburg Free StateSee also editList of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame List of Olympic medalists in swimming women World record progression 50 metres breaststrokeReferences edit Today in History Penny Heyns wins gold at 1996 Olympics Roodepoort Northsider 23 July 2018 Retrieved 15 December 2018 jonas 19 July 2012 South African swimmer Penny Heyns wins a gold Medal at Atlanta Olympics South African History Online Retrieved 15 December 2018 External links editPenny Heyns Homepage AwardsPreceded byKrisztina Egerszegi World Swimmer of the Year1996 Succeeded byClaudia PollPreceded byJenny Thompson World Swimmer of the Year1999 Succeeded byInge de Bruijn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Penelope Heyns amp oldid 1203420992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
