From growing up in the small coastal town of Amanzimtoti on the Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast, Penny Heyns went on to re-write history in the swimming world. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games she became the first woman ever to win both the 100m and 200m breaststroke, she broke 14 world records in a 4 year period, and remains the only person ever to hold world records in all 3 breaststroke distances (50m, 100m & 200m) at the same time.
After winning bronze at the Sydney 2000 Games, Penny retired from swimming and is now a business woman, international speaker and head of the FINA Athletes Committee.
However, by her own admission, her journey has not been an easy one, and both during her career, and afterwards in life outside the pool, she has dealt with many ups and downs, not least of which was coping with the everything that comes with being an Olympic double gold medalist.
In Part 1 of this 2 part episode she talks about what it took to reach the top of the Olympic podium.