In October, Swimming SA had to apologise for withholding prize money Smith won at the 2023 world champs

Tatjana Smith was Tatjana Schoenmaker when she won double gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — held in August 2021 due to Covid-19 — to capture the hearts of South Africans.

She became Smith when she married sports agent and the brother of Rachel Kolisi, Joel Smith, in November 2023.

In 2024 South Africans had to get used to the name of Tatjana Smith as she won gold (100m breaststroke) and silver (200m breaststroke) again to entrench herself as a golden girl of the country.

Things change, like names — and nationalities, or allegiances. Of course, when we fast forward two years again to 2026 and the news on Tuesday night delivered in a tearful video by Smith, who holds both South African and Dutch nationality, that she will compete at the LA 2028 Games for the Netherlands, it came as a bitter pill for this country to swallow.

That is completely understandable. The 29-year-old, who delighted South Africans coming out of retirement in September, is a world-class act to lose.

It might be a silly comparison in some ways, but as a person has every right to marry and change their name, so do they to take up new or switch nationalities, sporting or otherwise.

The double Olympic champion announced in September she was coming out of retirement and would focus on competing in the 50m breaststroke at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The South African superstar won the 200m title at the Tokyo Olympics and followed that up with the 100m gold in Paris three years later, after which she announced her retirement.

The LA Games is set to feature all four strokes over 50m after the breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly were added to an expanded programme.

“For the first time I am choosing swimming and I am choosing this event and I’m choosing a new event that has no history, but I’ll try and write some new history,” the 29-year-old said in a video posted on social media.

She will try to write history indeed — and there will be an added piece of it as she competes in the orange colours of her new adopted country.

In October, Swimming South Africa (SSA) had to apologise for withholding prize money Smith won at the 2023 world championships when the federation appeared before parliament’s sport, arts and culture portfolio committee in an at times fiery meeting.

SSA acting president Zikie Molusi admitted the incident should never have happened, saying: “We believe this issue could have been better handled.”

SSA withheld the $35,000 Smith won at the global gala in Fukuoka because she wore the costume of her personal sponsor, Speedo, instead of the federation’s sponsor, Arena.

After receiving legal letters SSA paid back the money as well as R75,000 in interest.

Smith, though, graciously only thanked South Africa for the role it played in her career.

“Both South Africa and the Netherlands have always been part of who I am,” she said in her announcement.

“I am deeply grateful to the South African swimming community, all my coaches and to every South African who cheered me on. That gratitude will never change,” added Smith, whose first international duty will be at the short-course world championships in Beijing from December 1-6.

On Wednesday sports minister Gayton McKenzie weighed in on some of the blowback Smith has received for her choice saying, somewhat clumsily, South Africa “does not own her. She is her own person and she deserves only success and happiness”.

McKenzie might reflect on some of his own actions. Last year he attempted to slash funding to many sporting federations, with ‘minority sports’ outside the big three of football, rugby and cricket most affected. The cuts were fought by parliament. Such actions can only further destabilise support to elite athletes.

His point though, about remaining fans and supporters of the athlete as she chooses her new path, is a good one.

The backlash Smith has received from some quarters seems unfair. She has made her choice, we have to accept it. Those who have loved and admired her will wish her all the best.