SA Olympic Legend Tatjana Smith Now Swims for the Netherlands
South African swimmer Tatjana Smith has decided to represent the Netherlands. The gold-winning Olympian made the stunning announcement on the 10th of November 2026 in a touching video in which she read a letter to the public, informing her countryfolk of the motivations behind her switch of national allegiance.
The news sent shockwaves around Mzansi because of Tatjana’s string of brilliant performances at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, where she also served as the country’s flagbearer. In her emotional announcement, Smith spoke about her feelings for South Africa and representing the country.
“When I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to represent my country at the Olympic Games. I wanted to wear the South African flag and make my country proud and show what was possible. I got to live that dream, and it gave me more than I could’ve ever imagined. Four Olympic medals later, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to swim for South Africa,” she said.
Tatjana with her gold medal in Tokyo | SUPPLIED
She talked about exploring the other half of her identity, her Dutch ancestry, in the latter half of her swimming career after reneging on her retirement.
“But dreams can change as you grow. When I decided to return to swimming, it wasn’t because I had something left to prove. It was because I had fallen in love with the sport again. I wanted to compete, push my limits, and discover what I more I was capable of. And for my next chapter, my dream looks different. I’ve 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. At the beginning of my career, I chose South Africa, a decision I will always treasure. Now I have made the decision to represent the Netherlands in the next chapter of my swimming career,” she said.
Though Smith will be representing the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation, she will still be based in South Africa where she will continue training with her long-time coaches. In addition, she reiterated her commitment to playing her part in the Lighthouse Sport Foundation, supporting local athletes.
Tatjana celebrating her podium finish | SUPPLIED
Smith swam for the green and gold across two consecutive Olympic Games in 2020 and 2024. In the four-year period, she clinched one gold and one silver in Tokyo for the 200m breaststroke and the 100m breaststroke, respectively. She replicated the medal wins in reverse at the Paris Games two years ago, bringing home gold and silver for the 100m breaststroke and the 200m breaststroke, in that order.
With the pair of medals at the Parisian event, Smith became the country’s most decorated Olympian.