Tatjana Smith to represent the Netherlands at the 2028 Olympics
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tuko
South African swimmer Tatjana Smith will represent the Netherlands at the 2028 Olympics after announcing her change of sporting representation. The double Olympic champion, who holds South African and Dutch nationality, will continue to live and train in South Africa, according to Tuko.
South African swimmer Tatjana Smith has confirmed her decision to represent the Netherlands at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The four-time Olympic medallist announced her decision in a video posted on social media, in which she appears emotional. She holds South African and Dutch nationality.
South African author Rachel Kolisi, the swimmer’s sister-in-law, reacted to the announcement by sharing the video on her Instagram stories on Tuesday 10 November 2026. She accompanied it with three goat emojis, an expression often used to salute a sportsperson’s excellence.
Tatjana Smith won four Olympic medals at the 2020 and 2024 Games, including two gold and two silver. After retiring from competitive sport in 2024, she announced her return to competition in September 2026. She said she wanted to benefit from the experience of the Dutch swimming system and then hoped to use this knowledge to contribute to the development of the sport in South Africa. She plans to continue living and training in her country of origin despite the change in her international representation.
Her return to competition also comes amid a dispute with Swimming South Africa (SSA), the South African swimming federation. The swimmer has launched proceedings concerning unpaid interest on bonuses that were allegedly withheld for a year after the 2023 world championships. She nevertheless said she wanted to continue contributing to the development of South African swimming.
