South Africa's Olympic champion swimmer switches to Netherlands

Summarised from 4 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 18:28 · Archive

Tatjana Smith, South Africa's most decorated Olympian with four medals, has switched allegiance to compete for the Netherlands.

Tatjana Smith, South Africa's most decorated Olympic athlete, has announced she is switching allegiance to the Netherlands to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 29-year-old swimmer made the announcement in a tearful video message on Instagram on Tuesday.

Smith won four Olympic medals for South Africa across two Games: gold in the 100-metre breaststroke at Paris 2024 and the 200-metre breaststroke at Tokyo 2021, together with silvers in the 100-metre at Tokyo and the 200-metre at Paris. She also won four world and Commonwealth gold medals between 2018 and 2023. She retired from competitive swimming after Paris and announced a comeback two months ago, now targeting the 50-metre breaststroke as it makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles.

Smith holds dual citizenship because her father is Dutch. She said both nations have 'always been part of who I am' and that this switch allows her to 'explore another part of my identity and heritage that I've never experienced through sport'. The New York Post reports that Smith's parents moved back to the Netherlands following the Paris Olympics.

Smith cited 'financial and practical challenges' as reasons for the switch, saying she needs a system in which athletes can thrive rather than merely survive. She acknowledged that 'not everyone will understand or agree' with her decision but said it offers her 'the potential to build a more sustainable career'. The BBC reports that financial worries, including a dispute with Swimming South Africa over prize money, previously contributed to her decision to retire from the sport.

Smith retired after Paris having 'lost the love' for swimming, stepping away for two years and avoiding the pool for several months. She told the BBC that throughout her career she was 'kind of a robot towards swimming', adding that the financial burden on athletes was particularly tough and that sponsorships depended on performance.

Al Jazeera reports that Smith's decision has divided opinion in South Africa, with some blaming the country's swimming authorities and others questioning the ethics of her dual citizenship. Smith told South Africa: 'When I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to represent my country at the Olympics. I got to live that dream, and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined.'

How it is being reported

• Why Olympic champion initially gave up swimming before shockingly switching countriesSouth Africa's most successful Olympian Tatjana Smith retired from the sport before her latest shocking move.New York Post · 11 Nov, 16:23
• South Africans divided over Olympic swimmer’s switch to NetherlandsSouth Africa’s most decorated Olympian is switching nations to swim for the Netherlands.Al Jazeera · 11 Nov, 14:09
• South Africa’s most successful Olympian Tatjana Smith reveals she’s switching to the NetherlandsFour-time Olympic medalist Tatjana Smith has announced she will switch nations to swim for the Netherlands at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.New York Post · 11 Nov, 08:52
• Tearful Smith switches allegiance to the NetherlandsSouth Africa's most decorated Olympian Tatjana Smith was in tears as she announced that she has switched her international allegiance to the Netherlands.BBC Sport · 11 Nov, 08:19
• South African swimmer Tatjana Smith switches allegiance to NetherlandsDouble Olympic gold medallist cites 'financial and practical challenges' of swimming.Al Jazeera · 11 Nov, 05:52
• South Africa's most-decorated Olympian switches allegiances to the NetherlandsSmith, a two-time Olympic champion, acknowledged this decsion ‘may disappoint or break the hearts’ of some supportersIndependent Sport · 10 Nov, 19:10

In this story: Tatjana Smith · South Africa · Netherlands · Paris · Tokyo · Los Angeles · Swimming South Africa

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