Tatjana Smith (Schoenmaker) is a 4x Olympic medalist, 2x Olympic champion, and South Africa’s most decorated Olympian in history. After winning gold and silver in Paris, Smith announced that she would retire from competitive swimming.
Smith sat down with SwimSwam to share how her retirement came about and what it has been like for her so far. The breaststroke specialist gets raw about the highs and lows of stepping away from a sport that has been such a big part of her life for well over a decade.
Seeing Tatjana’s genuine delight and joy after her Olympic wins in 2021 (and world record) and 2024 was a highlight of both these Games. We are lucky to have witnessed her career! Very best wishes to Tatjana for the next steps in her life.
class act
LOVE that quote!
Nice job interviewing the “Golden Girl,”Coleman!
Look at Tatjana: she’s very well lit and made up. Even has an Olympic circles necklace on. She definitely came to play!
A delightful interview in every aspect: a superb and honest guest in Tatjana; her frankness about the role of money (or lack thereof) in SA swimming; her desire to swim for herself, not for the $$$$; and the life she has laid out after hanging up her goggles! Brava!