The decision by South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, to adjust her international swimming allegiance to the Netherlands has dominated many sports headlines this week.

In an an emotional social media statement on Tuesday, 10 November, the four-time Olympic medallist said the decision would enable her to continue pursuing a career where it was possible to “thrive” rather than just “survive”.

Smith has previously highlighted the dysfunctional and virtually non-existent relationship with Swimming South Africa, while also opening up about the financial challenges that SA swimmers have to face in pursuit of their dreams in one of the country’s sports codes that is not mainstream.

Responding to Smith’s social media post, legendary former Springbok wing Bryan Habana was one of several prominent figures to show support to South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.

“Onwards and upwards,” Habana stated in the comments section.

Meanwhile, another former World Cup winning Springbok, Kobus Wiese, highlighted on X that some athletes continued to be put ‘second’ behind politicians.

“The budget goes first to pay for 1st class tickets / hotels for ministers and all the “hangers on”, instead of to athletes and their coaches”, Wiese commented.

Continued fallout to Tatjana Smith bombshell

Speaking to 702’s Bongani Bingwa, Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling said South African swimmers had been facing challenges for a “very long time”.

“It was an uphill battle. Our experience at the 2004 Olympics was horrific.”

On the same broadcast, Swimming South Africa’s Zikie Molusi also acknowledged that Smith’s prize money from the 2023 World Aquatics Championships should not have been withheld.

In a statement from the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, wished her well in the next chapter of her career.

“The public needs to understand how sport is run in South Africa. National federations are deliberately independent of government. They are governed by their own boards and answer to their international bodies. Where the Department funds a federation, the federation must account for that money – but the Department does not run federations, and it cannot take on all of their costs.

“That includes the significant cost of competing internationally. The people who lead federations are responsible for running their affairs sustainably and for attracting the partners and sponsors who can pay for these costs. SA Rugby does not ask the Department to pay for the Springboks to play overseas, even though it needs billions of rands each year to run their sport. 

“That is the standard every federation should aim for. The Department is aware of the problems at Swimming South Africa, including concerns athletes have raised. These problems are being dealt with through a reform process that is under way and includes oversight from World Aquatics. The Department will keep monitoring that process closely.”

What’s next?

Smith announced her retirement from competitive swimming after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but she then recently reversed her retirement decision and returned to competition at the South African Short-Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg in September.

With age still on her side, the 29-year-old’s first international assignment for the Netherlands is expected to be the short-course world championships in Beijing, China, from 1 to 6 December 2026.