Women's World Swimmer of the Year

Top 3 Finishers
Penny Heyns, RSA
Jenny Thompson, USA
Susie O'Neill, AUS

Swimming World ran a photo of Penny Heyns on its September cover with the one-word caption, "Wow!" That was in reference to Heyns' unprecedented four world records in four swims in two days at the Janet Evans Invitational in July. Little did we know that she would deserve a "Double Wow!" after her performances during the next two months that would easily earn her Swimming World's title as female World Swimmer of the Year. The 24-year-old South African added four more long course world records at the Pan Pacific Championships in August, then another two short course meters marks in September. Ten world records, all in breaststroke, all in less than two months! She broke the world mark in the 50 meter breast once (30.83), the 100 breast three times to 1:06.52 and the 200 breast four times to 2:23.64. After her triple gold medal performance at Pan Pacs, Penny switched to short course meters, lowering the 100 standard to 1:05.57 and the 50 breast to 30.60 at meets in South Africa. This is the second time Heyns has earned world swimmer honors, the first coming in 1996. The last two years, however, she began to falter when her coach, Jan Bidrman, moved to Canada. But now, Penny's back with Bidrman and is the most dominant women's breaststroker in the history of the sport.