Cape Town. South Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete Tatjana Smith will change countries and now compete for the Netherlands. She has accepted that her decision may ‘disappoint or hurt some supporters’.
Two-time Olympic swimming champion Smith released an emotional video message on Instagram on Tuesday saying, ‘I have decided to swim for the Netherlands.’
Citing ‘financial and practical challenges’ that make it difficult to continue her swimming career, she said, ‘I know not everyone will understand or agree with my decision.’
Smith won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before that, in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Tatjana Schoenmaker won gold in the 200m breaststroke.
She became South Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete in history, also winning silver medals in the 100m in Tokyo and the 200m breaststroke in Paris.
Expressing gratitude to South Africa, Smith said, ‘When I was young, my biggest dream was to represent my country at the Olympics.’ She added, ‘I got to live that dream, and it gave me more than I ever imagined.’
Smith, 29, who also holds dual citizenship of the Netherlands, said, ‘Both countries are part of my identity.’ She further said, ‘But as one gets older, dreams can change.’
Smith, who retired from competitive swimming after the Paris Olympics, announced her return to the sport two months ago. Aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she will now be seen in the Netherlands’ orange jersey instead of South Africa’s green and gold jersey.