By Alec Hogg
Watching Ruda Landman’s interview with Penny Heyns on Biznews yesterday brought back memories. Of the young woman who was South Africa’s first post-Apartheid Olympic gold medallist. Of the electricity when she doubled up by adding the 200m to her 100m breaststroke victory. Of Madiba’s proud, united nation which celebrated again a few days later as hijack survivor Josia Thugwane brought home the marathon gold.
Our paths had crossed some months before Penny became her nation’s sweetheart. Among my responsibilities during a spell in banking was directing Absa’s sponsorship portfolio. Those days the bank had a multi-brand strategy. Encouraged by diminutive activist Sam Ramsamy, we plumped on swimming for one of the brands.
Four months before the Olympics, while helping wave Absa’s flag at the national swimming champs in Durban, I was among those who watched Penny breaking the 100m world record. She carried her nation’s hopes in Atlanta and didn’t fluff her lines. Now 40, the interview with Ruda shows Swimming South Africa’s first superstar hasn’t changed. She comes across as the same slightly introverted, composed, spiritual young woman with that mischievous glint in her eye. A role model for her sport, her sex, her nation.
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