Double Olympic champion Tatjana Smith switches allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands

Tatjana Smith, South Africa's most decorated Olympian, has announced that she will compete for the Netherlands. BBC, Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency reported the switch.

Smith, 29, has won four Olympic medals, two of them gold. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she won gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. She previously competed as Tatjana Schoenmaker.

Smith holds dual South African and Dutch citizenship. According to the BBC, this is because her father is Dutch.

She retired after the Paris Games and returned to the sport about two months before the announcement. The BBC dates her comeback to September. She is targeting the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She said she will continue to train in South Africa.

Smith was tearful as she made the announcement. She cited the "financial and practical challenges" of swimming, and greater high-performance support in the Netherlands, among her reasons. She acknowledged that the switch "may disappoint or break the hearts" of some supporters.

According to Al Jazeera, Smith announced the decision in a video message on Instagram on Tuesday. Al Jazeera quoted her as saying: "I know that not everyone will understand or agree with my decision." It also reported that she said athletes need a system in which they can thrive and not just survive.

According to the BBC, Smith read a letter addressed to South Africa and posted the statement on social media. The BBC reported that she will continue to live in South Africa. It also reported that she hopes to compete in the 50m breaststroke, which debuts at the 2028 Games. She is set to represent the Netherlands for the first time at the short course World Championships, from 1 to 6 December, according to the BBC.

The BBC reported that Smith has previously said financial worries, including a dispute with Swimming South Africa over prize money, contributed to her decision to step away. The BBC said it had approached Swimming South Africa for comment. Its report does not include a response.

What is disputed

The BBC and Al Jazeera give slightly different wording for one line of Smith's statement: "dreams can change as we grow" (BBC) and "dreams can change as you grow" (Al Jazeera). This may be a transcription difference.

What each side says

Smith said she has always been both Dutch and South African. Al Jazeera quoted her as saying: "This gives me the opportunity to explore another part of my identity and the heritage that I've never experienced through sport."

According to the BBC, South Africa's Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture said it is aware of "problems at Swimming South Africa". The BBC quoted the ministry's statement: "Tatjana's choice belongs to her and it should not be turned into a political weapon."

The BBC quoted Minister Gayton McKenzie as saying: "Every medal, every record and every anthem she gave us belongs to our history forever. We now have to share her with the Netherlands."

The reports do not include any statement from Dutch swimming or Olympic authorities.

Analysis

Smith's move may draw attention to how national systems fund and support elite athletes, given that she said the "financial and practical challenges of swimming were among the reasons" her previous career became difficult to sustain, according to the BBC. Her stated reasons, together with the ministry's reference to problems at Swimming South Africa, could prompt scrutiny of athlete support in South Africa. Neither the scale of the Dutch support nor the details of the prize-money dispute are described in the reports reviewed by Vocemundi. Possible scenarios range from reform discussions in South Africa to other dual nationals weighing similar choices. The ministry's measured tone suggests one possible path, but much depends on responses not yet included in the reports, including from Swimming South Africa and Dutch authorities.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.