With the end of the sports boycott in 1992, South African swimmers were again welcomed into international competition. It did not take them long to make an impact. While the 1992 Olympic Games did not produce any medals, Peter Williams did make a final in 50m freestyle, finishing 4th, and Marianne Kriel also made a B-Final.
By 1996 the situation had changed completely, with Penny Heyns won two gold medals and set a string up new world records, as well as being voted the International Female Swimmer of the Year, and Marianne Kriel took bronze in the 100m backstroke. In 2004 the South African men shocked the swimming world by winning the 4x100m freestyle relay. And then came Chad le Clos.