South Africa Olympian Tatjana Smith reveals she's switching to the Netherlands
New York Post • • sports
Key Points:
- South African swimmer Tatjana Smith, a four-time Olympic medalist, announced she is switching her sporting allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands, citing financial and practical challenges in her career and seeking better high-performance support.
- Smith, who holds dual citizenship through her Dutch father, revealed the decision two months after coming out of retirement with plans to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Despite the nationality switch, approved by World Aquatics, Smith will continue training in South Africa and will debut for the Netherlands at the World Short Course Championships in Beijing this December.
- Smith expressed deep gratitude and pride for her South African roots but emphasized that the decision was made for her future and professional growth, acknowledging it may disappoint some supporters.
- The article also contextualizes Smith’s move within a broader trend of athletes changing national allegiances, citing examples like freestyle skier Eileen Gu and soccer player Sydney Leroux.
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