It is 19 July, 1996 and it is the Summer Olympics! All eyes are on Atlanta, where 10, 318 athletes from 197 countries have descended on the capital city of the state of Georgia. South Africa, competing in only its second Games since readmission after a 32-year absence, sends 84 athletes. Only of them is a young Penny Heyns. Five days later, she beats Australian, Samantha Riley, and American, Amanda Beard to the 100m breaststroke gold medal. it is South Africa's first gold medal at the Games in over four decades. Another two days later, she bests Beard and wins the 200m breaststroke event. It is unheard of - no swimmer has gone on to win both individual breaststroke events at the same Games.
She became South Africa's darling. But why did it appear she had a love-hate relationship with swimming and being a celebrity, and are her victories really more enjoyable now than they were then?
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