Six things to know about her career

After her last race at the Paris Olympics 2024, Tatjana Smith, formerly Shoenmaker, announced that she will be retiring as a swimmer.

TATJANA SMITH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

27-year-old Tatjana Smith called time on her career after her last race at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday 1 August. She revealed that she is looking forward to a life outside of swimming and expressed that she loved competing.

“I’m looking forward to my life outside of swimming. It was an amazing battle and I’ve never raced Kate (Douglass) in an Olympic final before. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my career in a very tough battle. I’ve always loved competing,” she said.

Tatjana went on to say that she is now excited to live life. The Olympic swimmer married Joel Smith, the brother of Rachel Kolisi in November 2023.

“Achievements fall away. You are remembered for who you are and I want to be remembered for bringing people joy. Swimming is a part of a season in your life and now I’m excited to live life,” she said confirming her retirement.

SIX THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TATAJANA’S CAREER

• Tatjana won her fourth Olympic medal after finishing second in the women’s 200m breaststroke on Thursday 1 August.
• She made history as South Africa’s greatest-achieving Olympian after bagging her fourth Olympic medal.
• Tatjana, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Pretoria (UP), made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
• She also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Tatjana came in second in the 100m breaststroke final, behind 19-year-old compatriot Lara van Niekerk.
• Her swimming career began quite early as she bagged six gold medals at the African Junior Championships in Lusaka at the age of 16. At 18, she bagged three golds at the senior African Games in Brazzaville. Thereafter she became a double gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
• Tatjana became the first South African woman to step on the podium at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju in 2019.

Take a look at six things to know about the Olympic swimmer here.

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