Sports · Other Sports · 3 hrs ago
Tatjana Smith switches international allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands
Tatjana Smith will now represent the Netherlands, switching from South Africa, where she became the country’s most decorated Olympian.
The 29-year-old has dual citizenship through her Dutch-born father and said the move lets her explore that part of her identity through sport.
She won four Olympic breaststroke medals, including gold in the 200m at Tokyo 2020 and in the 100m at Paris 2024.
Smith retired after the Paris Games, then returned in September with plans to target the 50m breaststroke at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Financial and practical pressures helped drive her decision, including difficulties sustaining a swimming career and a dispute over prize money.
She said she remains grateful to South Africa and will continue to live and train there.
She is set to race for the Netherlands at the short course world championships from 1 to 6 December, before aiming for the Los Angeles Games.
Tatjana Smith has switched her international allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands.
The double Olympic gold medallist cited her Dutch heritage and the potential for a more sustainable career.
Smith will continue to live and train in South Africa.
She is set to represent the Netherlands at the short course world championships from 1 to 6 December.
Her target is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Who
- Tatjana Smith, South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.
- What
- She has switched her international allegiance to the Netherlands.
- When
- She announced the switch on 11 November 2026.
- Where
- She will represent the Netherlands internationally while continuing to live and train in South Africa.
- Why
- She cited her Dutch heritage and the potential for a more sustainable career amid financial and practical challenges in swimming.
Tatjana Smith
Critics of Smith’s switch
Reason for the decision
Tatjana Smith
Smith said the move lets her explore another part of her identity and heritage and offers the potential for a more sustainable career.
Critics of Smith’s switch
Critics cited by the Mail & Guardian argue that South Africa supported her career and that her switch is disappointing.
What the switch means
Tatjana Smith
Smith described it as a new chapter while expressing pride and gratitude for representing South Africa.
Critics of Smith’s switch
The Mail & Guardian says the decision carries symbolic weight and represents a loss for South African sport.
Smith retired after winning four Olympic breaststroke medals.
Smith chose to come out of retirement, hoping to compete at the 2028 Olympics.
Smith announced that she had switched her international allegiance to the Netherlands.
Smith is set to represent the Dutch team at the short course world championships.
- Olympic medals
- Four breaststroke medals, including two golds
- Tokyo Olympics, 2021
- Gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m
- Paris Olympics, 2024
- Gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m
- Dutch citizenship
- Smith has dual citizenship through her Dutch-born father
- 2028 target
- Los Angeles Olympics
3 sources
What people are saying
dreams can change as we grow
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
I've always been Dutch and South African