Swimming South Africa has acknowledged that it should not have withheld Olympic champion Tatjana Smith’s prize money from the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, as the federation faces renewed scrutiny over its treatment of elite swimmers.

The admission came as Smith announced that she intends to represent the Netherlands, having cited financial pressures and better access to high-performance support as factors in her decision. Smith, who holds South African and Dutch citizenship, won four Olympic medals for South Africa, including two golds.

Swimming SA representative Zikie Molusi acknowledged the prize money should not have been withheld during an interview with 702. The dispute followed the federation’s decision to hold back the payment over conflicting sponsorship agreements. The federation said changes had since been made to athletes’ contracts.

The money related to Smith’s success at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. She won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke and silver in the 100-metre event. The prize money was reported as US$35,000. After the payment was delayed, Smith pursued the matter through legal channels.

Swimming South Africa later paid the prize money, along with R75,000 in interest, according to eNCA. The dispute drew attention to the federation’s handling of athlete earnings and the terms governing national-team sponsorship requirements.

Smith’s decision to switch sporting allegiance has sharpened questions about whether South African athletes receive adequate financial and performance support. The issue extends beyond one swimmer. South African swimmers are due to compete in an international event in Beijing next month, and the federation has been asked about reports that some athletes may need to contribute towards travel costs.

Molusi said that, of the 21 athletes travelling, he estimated about half would be fully subsidised, while the remainder would receive partial support. He attributed the funding constraints to broader challenges affecting sport federations and called for greater corporate involvement.

Former Olympic champion Ryk Neethling has also raised concerns about long-standing difficulties faced by South African swimmers, recalling problems encountered by his team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. His comments add to criticism that administrative and funding problems have persisted across successive generations of athletes.

The federation’s admission addresses the withholding of Smith’s prize money, but it does not resolve wider concerns about governance, funding and athlete support. Swimming South Africa’s explanation that sponsorship arrangements were involved points to the importance of clear contracts and timely communication between federations and competitors.

Smith’s planned move to the Netherlands has brought these questions into sharper focus. Her departure represents a significant loss for South African swimming, while the circumstances surrounding the withheld payment have prompted debate about how the country retains and supports its leading athletes.

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