Olympic champion Tatjana Smith to swim for the Netherlands

Tatjana Smith, South Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete, has announced that she will represent the Netherlands as she pursues a return to Olympic competition. The two-time swimming gold medallist revealed the decision in an emotional Instagram video on Tuesday, acknowledging that some South African supporters would struggle to accept the change.

Smith, 29, holds citizenship in both countries and described the move as an opportunity to connect with another part of her identity. She also pointed to the financial and practical difficulties of maintaining a swimming career, saying the Dutch opportunity offered greater support for high performance and the prospect of a more sustainable future in the sport.

The announcement follows her decision to come out of retirement. Smith stepped away from competitive swimming after the 2024 Paris Olympics, but announced her comeback two months ago with the 2028 Los Angeles Games as her target. That ambition will now involve competing for the Netherlands, although she said she would continue to train in South Africa.

Her Olympic record includes gold in the 100-metre breaststroke in Paris and victory in the 200-metre breaststroke at the Tokyo Games, which were held in 2021. She competed in Tokyo under the name Tatjana Schoenmaker. Those titles came alongside two silver medals, giving her four Olympic medals across the two Games.

Smith’s silver medals came in the 100-metre breaststroke in Tokyo and the 200-metre breaststroke in Paris. Her combination of two golds and two silvers made her South Africa’s most decorated Olympian. Fellow South African swimmer Chad le Clos also has four Olympic medals, but his collection includes one gold.

Reflecting on her years representing South Africa, Smith said competing for her country at the Olympics had been her greatest childhood ambition. Fulfilling it, she said, had brought her more than she could have imagined. She acknowledged that her decision to change nations could disappoint supporters or leave them heartbroken.

Smith nevertheless described both countries as belonging to her sense of identity and said ambitions could evolve with age. Representing the Netherlands would allow her to experience her Dutch heritage through sport, something she had not previously done.

In explaining the practical reasons behind the switch, Smith stressed that athletes needed conditions that allowed them to thrive rather than simply survive. She linked her decision to the opportunity for stronger sporting support as she works towards Los Angeles.