Four-time Olympic medallist Tatjana Smith has left the South African national team and will swim for the Netherlands. She confirmed the move on Tuesday in a video on Instagram.
The 29-year-old is South Africa’s most decorated Olympian. She is targeting the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. World Aquatics has formally approved her change of sport nationality, IOL Sport reported.
“The reality is that this opportunity also offers greater high-performance support and the potential to build a more sustainable career,” Smith said in the video.
Smith qualifies for the Netherlands through dual citizenship. Her father, René Schoenmaker, is Dutch. That gives her Dutch nationality alongside her South African passport.
A tearful Smith said it was “a hard decision”. She said she knew it would “disappoint or even break the hearts” of her supporters.
“When I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to represent my country at the Olympic Games,” she said. “I got to live that dream, and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined.”
Smith said she had always been both Dutch and South African. “Both countries are a part of who I am, but sport requires you to choose one to represent,” she said.
She said she chose South Africa at the start of her career and would always treasure that decision. She said the switch lets her explore a heritage she has never experienced through sport.
Smith said money and practical problems were among the reasons her previous career became difficult to sustain. “I believe our athletes deserve a system that gives them the opportunity to thrive, not just survive,” she said.
Smith retired after the Paris Olympics and later returned to the pool. She now trains with Stellenbosch club Lane Leader and is focused on sprint events.
At the SA Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg, she swam a personal best of 29.50 seconds in the 50m breaststroke. She also swam qualifying times for the World Short Course championships. The 50m stroke events are new to the Olympic programme for LA 2028.
After her comeback, Smith said she still did not feel “safe” competing under Swimming South Africa. World Aquatics has provisionally suspended the federation’s president, Alan Fritz, and chief executive, Shaun Adriaanse, over alleged abuse of power.
Smith also fought a legal battle to recover $35,000 in withheld prize money, IOL Sport reported. She used access to information requests over commercial agreements that limited what athletes could earn.
Smith said she will continue to live and train in South Africa. She said she will keep supporting local swimming through her Lighthouse Sport Foundation.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.