The event formed part of the centennial celebrations commemorating one hundred years of women in swimming.
The Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting the sport of swimming and immortalising the achievements and contributions of those who have distinguished themselves in this area.
Heyns was acknowledged for her Olympic achievements and record breaking victories.
She is famous for her outstanding performance at the1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where she managed to become the first South African in 44 years to win gold.
The world renowned swimmer made history by becoming the first women ever to win gold in both the one hundred and two hundred metre breaststroke events.
Three years later, in 1999, Heyns broke eleven world records in three months on three different continents and managed to hold the fifty, one hundred and two hundred metre long course breaststroke world records simultaneously.
She has held a total of fourteen world records.
According to the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 2007 Inductees report, “Heyns held more breaststroke world records than any other swimmer in history, male or female.”
Courtesy: gsport … for Girls
