{
  "id": 19356501,
  "title": "FRESH CHAPTER: Swimming icon Tatjana Smith switches allegiance to the Netherlands ‘to thrive, not just survive’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/fresh-chapter-swimming-icon-tatjana-smith-switches-allegiance-to-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T16:14:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-10-swimming-icon-tatjana-smith-switches-allegiance-to-the-netherlands-to-thrive-not-just-survive/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four-time Olympic champion Tatjana Smith, previously known as Schoenmaker, has announced her switch to representing the Netherlands in her swimming career. The decision comes after SSA withheld prize money from Smith during her time with South Africa. Smith, who has four Olympic medals, including two golds, stated that she made the move to \"thrive, not just survive.\" Smith, who holds both South African and Dutch citizenship, expressed gratitude for her time with South Africa but emphasized the need for better support and opportunities for athletes in her sport. She will now focus on the newly added 50m breaststroke event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking the start of her next chapter.",
  "summary": "Four-time Olympic champion Tatjana Smith has announced that she will switch her sporting nationality to the Netherlands.",
  "key_points": [
    "Four-time Olympic champion Tatjana Smith switches to Netherlands.",
    "SSA withheld prize money during Smith's time with South Africa.",
    "Smith aims to thrive, not just survive in new chapter."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}