South Africa has watched Tatjana Smith rise to the very top of international swimming, celebrating her victories in Tokyo and Paris as some of the country’s finest sporting moments.
Now, the four-time Olympic medallist is preparing to compete under a different flag, bringing an unexpected turn to her career that has made her one of the most recognisable figures in South African sport.
Smith announced on Tuesday, 10 November, that she had decided to represent the Netherlands in the next chapter of her swimming career. The change in sporting nationality has been approved by World Aquatics, making her eligible to compete for the European country at international events. Smith holds dual South African and Dutch citizenship.
Smith took to social media to share an emotional video addressed to South Africa, reflecting on the country she had represented throughout her international career and explaining the thinking behind her decision.
“When I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to represent my country at the Olympic Games, I got to live that dream, and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined.”
Her achievements in South African colours are difficult to overlook. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Smith, then competing as Tatjana Schoenmaker, won gold in the 200m breaststroke, setting a world record, and silver in the 100m.
She returned to the podium at Paris 2024, taking gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. Four medals across two Olympic Games have made her South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.
Smith Faced Dispute Over Prize Money with Swimming South Africa
Smith has been open about the difficulties she experienced while competing under the South African system, particularly in her dealings with Swimming South Africa (SSA).
A dispute over prize money earned at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, became a particularly contentious issue. Smith had won gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m, earning $35,000 (USD) in prize money. The payment was withheld by the federation for more than a year following a dispute over her competition swimsuit and sponsorship arrangements.
The money was eventually paid, with a further disagreement arising over the interest accrued while it was held.
Smith’s announcement also pointed to the practical considerations behind the move. She said representing the Netherlands would provide greater high-performance support and an opportunity to build a more sustainable career.
“The reality is that this opportunity also offers greater high-performance support and the potential to build a more sustainable career,” Explained Smith.
Future Competitions Under Dutch Flag
The swimmer retired after the Paris Olympics but announced her return to competition in September 2026. Her focus has since shifted towards the 50m breaststroke, an event making its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. She recently returned to racing at the South African Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg, where she won the national 50m breaststroke title.
Her first international appearance for the Netherlands is expected at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing, China, from 1 to 6 December.
Despite the change in allegiance, Smith is not leaving South Africa.
She intends to remain based in the country and continue training with the team that has supported her career. She has also expressed an interest in learning from the Dutch sporting system and bringing that experience back to South Africa.