1996 — Penny Heyns becomes the first South African to win two Olympic golds at a single Games since tennis player Charles Winslow in 1912, as she wins the 200m breaststroke. Having won the 100m breaststroke crown two days earlier, she takes the four-lap race in a 2 min 25.41 sec Olympic record to become the first — and so far only — woman to win the breaststroke double at a single Games.
2001 — Roland Schoeman becomes the first South African to win a world long-course championship medal, taking a share of third place in the 50m freestyle in Fukuoka. Schoeman and Japanese swimmer Tomohiro Yamanoi clocked 22.18 sec for bronze behind Olympic champion Anthony Ervin of the US (22.09) and Holland’s Olympic 100m freestyle king Pieter van den Hoogenband (22.16). Schoeman went on to win the Olympic bronze in this event in 2004.
2021 — The Tokyo Olympics, the only Games to be staged without spectators because of the Covid-19 pandemic, kicks off with the opening ceremony.
Games history
Olympic Blasts!: Penny Heyns wins two gold medals in Atlanta
Today in Olympic history: July 23
Image: Adam Pretty/ALLSPORT
1996 — Penny Heyns becomes the first South African to win two Olympic golds at a single Games since tennis player Charles Winslow in 1912, as she wins the 200m breaststroke. Having won the 100m breaststroke crown two days earlier, she takes the four-lap race in a 2 min 25.41 sec Olympic record to become the first — and so far only — woman to win the breaststroke double at a single Games.
2001 — Roland Schoeman becomes the first South African to win a world long-course championship medal, taking a share of third place in the 50m freestyle in Fukuoka. Schoeman and Japanese swimmer Tomohiro Yamanoi clocked 22.18 sec for bronze behind Olympic champion Anthony Ervin of the US (22.09) and Holland’s Olympic 100m freestyle king Pieter van den Hoogenband (22.16). Schoeman went on to win the Olympic bronze in this event in 2004.
2021 — The Tokyo Olympics, the only Games to be staged without spectators because of the Covid-19 pandemic, kicks off with the opening ceremony.
READ MORE:
Olympic Blasts: Reggie Walker claims SA’s first medal in London in 1908
Olympics day in history: 1980 Olympics in Moscow boycotted over Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Olympic Blasts!: Penny Heyns completes a world record frenzy
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