Smith's Netherlands switch sad - SA swimming boss
Tatjana Smith won one gold and one silver medal at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games [Getty Images] The decision by South Africa's most decorated Olympian Tatjana Smith to switch allegiance to the Netherlands is "sad" for the nation, says Swimming South Africa CEO Zikie Molusi.
Key points
- She said the "financial and practical challenges of swimming were among the reasons my previous career became difficult to sustain".
- Smith said representing the Netherlands would give her "the potential to build a more sustainable career".
- She said that the opportunity "offers greater high-performance support" and that South African athletes "deserve a system that gives them an opportunity to thrive, not just survive".
The 29-year-old, who has won four Olympic medals, came out of retirement in September and is set to represent the Netherlands for the first time at the World Championships from 1-6 December.
Additional details
- Of the 21 athletes competing for South Africa at the Worlds next month, Molusi said "probably 50% will be subsidised fully", with the rest receiving partial support.
- Double Olympic champion Smith, who has dual citizenship because her father is Dutch, was in tears when she announced her decision on Wednesday.
- "It's an ecosystem issue within South African sport that possibly needs to be dealt with," Molusi said.
- Molusi said that was caused by conflicting sponsorship agreements but it "shouldn't have happened".
- "This comes as a result of the inadequate funding that sport federations are receiving.".
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