Sports

South Africa’s most successful Olympian Tatjana Smith reveals she’s switching to the Netherlands

By Linda Ikeji 11 November 2026, 11:46 am

South Africa’s most decorated Olympic athlete, Tatjana Smith, has announced her switch to compete for the Netherlands.

Two-time Olympic swimming champion Smith said in a sometimes tearful video message posted on Instagram: “I’ve decided to swim for the Netherlands.”

“I know that not everyone will understand or agree with my decision,” she said, citing “financial and practical challenges” that can make a swimming career difficult to sustain.

Smith won the 100 breaststroke title at the 2024 Paris Olympics and, as Tatjana Schoenmaker, the 200 breaststroke at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.

She also took two silvers, in the 100 at Tokyo and the 200 in Paris, to become South Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete.

Swimmer Chad le Clos also has four medals, including one gold.

“Both countries are a part of who I am,” the 29-year-old Smith said. “But dreams can change as you grow.”

“This gives me the opportunity to explore another part of my identity and the heritage that I’ve never experienced through sport.

“The opportunity also offers greater high performance support and the potential to build a more sustainable career.”

Smith added that athletes need a system in which they can thrive and not just survive, suggesting she would have “greater high performance support” in future. She said she would continue training in South Africa.

She retired from competitive swimming after Paris and announced a comeback two months ago, targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, now in Dutch orange instead of South African green and gold.

Smith added that athletes need a system where they can thrive and not just survive, suggesting she would have “greater high performance support” in the future.