South Africa's most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, was in tears as she announced that she has switched her allegiance to the Netherlands.
Smith, 29, won four Olympic breaststroke medals, including two golds, before retiring after the Paris 2024 Games. She came out of retirement in September and hopes to compete in the 50m breaststroke when the event makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Smith, whose maiden name was Schoenmaker, wiped away tears as she read a letter addressed to South Africa, saying that "dreams can change as we grow." She holds dual citizenship because her father is Dutch. She said she has "always been Dutch and South African" and that the switch is a chance to "explore another part of my identity and heritage that I've never experienced through sport."
She said the move also offers "greater high-performance support and the potential to build a more sustainable career." She said the "financial and practical challenges of swimming were among the reasons my previous career became difficult to sustain." Smith has previously said that financial worries, including a dispute with Swimming South Africa over prize money, contributed to her decision to step away from the sport. Swimming South Africa was approached for comment.
She won gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, then gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m in 2024.
"Representing South Africa was a childhood dream come true, and it's a chapter I will always look back on with immense pride and gratitude," she said on social media.
Smith said she will continue to live and train in South Africa. She is due to represent the Netherlands for the first time at the short course World Championships from December 1 to 6.
South Africa's Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture said it was aware of the "problems at Swimming South Africa." In a statement, it said the country was delighted to see her return to the pool but "South Africa does not own her," and that her choice "should not be turned into a political weapon." Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said every medal, record and anthem she gave South Africa belongs to its history forever, and that "we now have to share her with the Netherlands."
