South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith is widely regarded as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers in history. A multiple Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games medallist, she has set South African, African and Olympic records while redefining excellence in women’s breaststroke.
Career highlights include:
- South Africa’s most decorated Olympian
- Most successful female Olympic breaststroker in history
- Tied as the only Olympian - male or female - to win four Olympic breaststroke medals
- South African, African and Olympic record holder in the 100m and 200m breaststroke
- First woman to break 2:19 in the 200m breaststroke
- Former world record holder in the 200m breaststroke
- First South African woman to win a World Championship gold medal in breaststroke
Major achievements:
- Olympic Games: 2 Gold (2021 200m, 2024 100m), 2 Silver (2021 100m, 2024 200m)
- World Championships: Gold (2023 200m), Silver (2019 200m, 2023 100m)
- Commonwealth Games: 3 Gold (2018 100m & 200m; 2022 200m), Silver (2022 100m)
- World University Games: 2 Gold (2019 100m & 200m), Silver (2017 200m)
Honours:
- African Female Swimmer of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)
- South African Sports Star of the Year (2019, 2022)
- South African Sportswoman of the Year (2019, 2022)