Penelope Heyns, known as Penny Heyns, is a South African swimmer, born November 8, 1974, in Springs, Transvaal, now Gauteng, who specialized in breaststroke. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she became the only woman in Olympic history to win both the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke events, and became South Africa's first post apartheid Olympic gold medalist following the nation's return to competition in 1992. She set multiple world records in breaststroke, was named Swimming World's Female World Swimmer of the Year in both 1996 and 1999, and won a bronze medal in the 100 meter breaststroke at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before retiring in 2001. She is regarded, alongside Australian swimmer Leisel Jones, as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers in history, and afterward became a businesswoman, motivational speaker and television presenter.
Facts
Career HighlightOnly woman in Olympic history to win both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events, at the 1996 Atlanta Games 1 Classification
Competition Category FAQs
How does Penny Heyns compare with earlier South African Olympic champions?
She was the first South African since Charles Winslow to win two Olympic golds.
Olympedia describes Penny Heyns as the first South African since Charles Winslow to win two Olympic gold medals, a distinction she earned with her 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke wins at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Connections
Competed In
Source Wikipedia: Penelope Heyns
Plays
Source Wikipedia: Penelope Heyns
In the Other Atlases
Nationality
Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.
Source Wikidata: Penny Heyns
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Penelope Heyns
Intro, birth clause
born 8 November 1974
Infobox: birth_date
November 8, 1974
Intro, descriptor
a South African former swimmer
Intro, Olympic clause
the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events
Introduction
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.
Competed In: Olympic Games, Lead or career section
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.
View the SourceWikidata: Penny Heyns
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