Show me the money

Heyns sets world record, but doesn't get the cash

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Posted: Saturday August 01, 1998 11:25 PM

Heyns earned the Goodwill gold medal with a time of 1 minute, 8.14 seconds AP

UNIONDALE, New York (AP) -- World record yes, payoff no, and Penny Heyns is mad.

Heyns, of South Africa, set a world record in the 50-meter breaststroke Saturday night. But because it is not an official event, she will not earn the $50,000 offered to anyone setting a world record at the Goodwill Games.

Heyns was timed in 30.95 seconds on the first lap of the 100 breaststroke event. She earned the Goodwill gold medal with a time of 1 minute, 8.14 seconds.

FINA, the world governing body for swimming, decided this year to credit swimmers with world records for the first 50 meters of 100-meter events in breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Fifty-meter races are only contested in freestyle.

Because the 50 breaststroke is not an event in itself, Heyns will not earn the $50,000, a ruling that Heyns disputed after the race, saying, "there was no fine print."

The previous 50 record was 31.58 by Silke Hoerner of Germany.

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