Penny Heyns: Olympic Champion
Olympic champion, motivational speaker, and peak performance expert Penny Heyns helps organizations build resilience, achieve excellence, and sustain high performance through mindset and discipline.
Quick Facts:
- Double Olympic gold medalist (Atlanta 1996)
- Bronze medalist (Sydney 2000)
- Set 14 individual world records
- Only swimmer to hold records in all three breaststroke distances
- Formats:
Keynote Speaker, Motivational Speaker, and Peak Performance Expert
- Audiences:
Corporate teams, leaders, athletes, and organizations seeking high performance, resilience, and excellence.
- Outcomes:
- Build a high-performance mindset and discipline
- Overcome challenges with resilience and focus
- Sustain excellence in competitive environments
- Travels from: Johannesburg, SA
- **Fee range: $500 - $5,000
Keynote Topics
Swim Your Own Race
Swimming is an individual and very often, lonely sport. Much like life, it requires certain key elements in order to attain success – elements such as sacrifice, perseverance and single-minded focus.
This presentation will shed light on what it takes to make it to the top of one of the world’s toughest sporting disciplines, how to stay there and how those same principles relate and apply to business and life in general.
It will inspire the listener to believe in his or her own potential, show them how to turn disappointment into victory and most importantly, how to live a life in pursuit of personal excellence.
Mental Power
Penny Heyns also offers a high impact workshop called Mental Power to inspire individuals and to empower people to discover their potential, find their purpose and to learn how to think like an Olympic Champion!
- Better self-understanding
- Accurately understand their unique neurological design and how it will influence their ability to out-think, out-learn and out-create their competition.
- More clarity on individual purpose.
- Motivated to pursue their life’s purpose.
- Identify how they are smart.
- Identify unique potential.
- Program minds for increased success.
- Identifying and replacing mind sets that may be limiting future success.
- Applying 8 mind sets of champions for successful living.
- Living a more positive and constructive life by improving self-motivation.
Talent Short Bio
Penny Heyns is a South African Olympic champion, global keynote speaker, and one of the greatest swimmers in history. Widely regarded as the finest female breaststroker of the 20th century, she made history at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games by becoming the first woman to win gold in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Her dominance in the sport extended far beyond the Olympics. Penny set 14 individual world records during her career and remains the only swimmer—male or female—to have held world records in all three breaststroke distances: 50m, 100m, and 200m. Her achievements have earned her induction into the South African Sport Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Beyond the pool, Penny has transformed her experiences into powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and peak performance. She understands the discipline, mindset, and perseverance required to succeed at the highest level, and she brings these insights to audiences around the world.
Videos
Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry
Overview:
This weekend coaching clinic, led by Zelda and Penny, received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. Participants praised the motivational aspects of the event, highlighting its ability to reignite passion for coaching and inspire personal growth. Lynette, a coach with two decades of experience, expressed gratitude for the insights gained, emphasizing the importance of motivation and recognizing one's talent. Young swimmer Shona, only 9 years old, left the clinic feeling inspired and eager to set goals, showcasing the event's impact on all ages.
Strengths:
- Inspiring and motivational content
- Practical takeaways for both coaches and young athletes
- Engaging atmosphere that encourages goal setting
Weaknesses:
- No significant weaknesses were mentioned in the reviews.
Overall, the clinic is highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their coaching skills or inspire young athletes.
Talent FAQ's
Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
Does the scale of the event and audience size affect a speaker’s fee?
The scale of the event and audience size can indeed impact a speaker’s fee. Larger events with a broader reach or higher attendance may command higher fees due to increased exposure and demand. Conversely, smaller events or niche audiences may offer opportunities for more flexible pricing arrangements.
Travel expenses and other costs
Travel expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and meals are typically negotiated separately from the speaker’s fee. These costs vary depending on the speaker’s location, travel distance, and event duration. It’s important to clarify travel arrangements and expenses during the booking process to avoid misunderstandings.
Deposits and securing a booking
Many speakers require a deposit to secure a booking, with the remaining balance due closer to the event date. Deposits are often non-refundable and serve as a commitment from both parties. It’s advisable to discuss deposit requirements and payment terms with the speaker or their representative when finalizing the booking.
Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
- There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
- Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
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