Tatjana Smith switches to the Netherlands. Why she left and what's next
South Africa's most decorated Olympian will swim for the Netherlands, starting at the Short Course Worlds in December, with LA 2028 as the goal. Here's why she switched and how the rules allow it.
South Africa's most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith (formerly Schoenmaker), will swim for the Netherlands from now on. She announced the switch on Tuesday, 10 November, and her team says World Aquatics has already approved the change (NBC Sports, SwimSwam).
Her first race in Dutch colours is set for the World Short Course Championships in Beijing from 1 to 6 December. The bigger target is the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (NBC Sports).
Why is Tatjana Smith swimming for the Netherlands?
Smith holds both South African and Dutch citizenship. In her announcement she said sport forces you to pick one country, that she chose South Africa at the start of her career, and that she now wants to explore the Dutch side of her heritage through swimming (The Citizen).
She also took a clear swipe at the system at home. "Our athletes deserve a system that gives them the opportunity to thrive, not just survive," she said (The Citizen).
Her camp's press release said the Dutch support structure will let her focus fully on performance and build "a more sustainable swimming career" (SwimSwam).
What happened between Smith and Swimming SA?
Smith has been in a dispute with Swimming South Africa (SSA) over interest on prize money from the 2023 World Championships, which The Citizen reports the federation held back for a year (The Citizen). Daily Maverick reports that financial pressure, the withheld prize money and concerns about SSA's support for athletes played a part in her 2024 retirement (Daily Maverick).
In a recent BizNews interview she said the federation has long failed to put athletes first, pointing to a lack of financial support, legal protection and a safe way to raise concerns (SwimSwam).
Is she moving to the Netherlands?
No. Smith says she will keep living and training in South Africa (The Citizen, NBC Sports). She has formally notified both the South African and Dutch federations (SwimSwam).
How can she switch countries so quickly?
World Aquatics rules allow a swimmer to change sport nationality once in a career, with its approval. The main conditions are a 12-month gap since the swimmer last represented their old country, citizenship of the new country, and either 12 months' residence there or a "genuine, close and established link" to it (World Aquatics).
Smith last raced for South Africa at the Paris 2024 Olympics before retiring for about two years, so the waiting period was long over (NBC Sports). For the Olympics, athletes typically have to wait three years after last representing one nation, which Paris to Los Angeles also covers (NBC Sports).
Because the switch is a once-off, she cannot return to swimming for South Africa later under these rules (World Aquatics).
What has she won for South Africa?
| Games | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | 200m breaststroke | Gold (then world record, 2:18.95) |
| Tokyo 2020 | 100m breaststroke | Silver |
| Paris 2024 | 100m breaststroke | Gold |
| Paris 2024 | 200m breaststroke | Silver |
Sources: SwimSwam, Daily Maverick.
Her Tokyo gold was South Africa's first Olympic gold in women's swimming since 1996 (SwimSwam). She also won the 200m breaststroke world title in 2023, the first South African woman to do so (Daily Maverick).
What comes next?
Smith came out of retirement on 21 September and has shifted her focus to the 50m breaststroke, a new Olympic event for LA 2028 (Daily Maverick). At the Dutch qualifiers in Rotterdam in late October she won the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke in 29.54, 1:03.92 and 2:19.96 (SwimSwam).
In the Dutch team she joins Tes Schouten, the 2024 world 200m breaststroke champion who took bronze behind Smith in Paris (SwimSwam).
"Choosing a new path doesn't erase the journey that brought me here," Smith said (SwimSwam).
FAQ
Why did Tatjana Smith switch to the Netherlands?
She holds Dutch and South African citizenship and says she wants to explore her Dutch heritage through sport and a different high-performance system. She also said athletes deserve a system that lets them thrive, not just survive.
When will Tatjana Smith first swim for the Netherlands?
At the World Short Course Championships in Beijing from 1 to 6 December 2026, according to NBC Sports.
Can Tatjana Smith swim for South Africa again?
World Aquatics rules allow only one change of sport nationality in a career, so under those rules she cannot switch back.
Is Tatjana Smith leaving South Africa?
No. She says she will keep living and training in South Africa.