OPINION: Olympic codes in SA need an overhaul, or the exodus won’t stop with Tatjana Smith
Tatjana Smith, Benjamin Richardson and Matthew Sates are jumping ship, and others might follow suit.
Tatjana Smith, a double Olympic gold medallist, has decided to switch her international allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands. The 29-year-old, who holds both South African and Dutch citizenship, revealed her decision on Tuesday due to financial challenges and increased opportunities for high-performance support. Smith won the 200m breaststroke at the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She also secured two silver medals in the pool during her career, making her the most decorated South African Olympian. Smith had previously retired after the Paris Games but changed her mind this year, hoping to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Reflecting on her journey, Smith expressed her pride in representing her country at the Olympics, stating that it has exceeded her expectations.
She added that this new opportunity allows her to explore another facet of her identity and heritage, which she has not experienced through sport.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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