South African Olympic champion Tatjana Smith has returned to competitive swimming after a two-year break, saying she stepped away from the sport after losing her passion for it.
The 29-year-old retired following the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m event.
She had previously claimed the 200m breaststroke title and 100m silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Smith said years of intense training had left her emotionally exhausted and disconnected from swimming.
She explained that her life had been completely centred on the sport, leaving little room to explore other interests or spend time outside the swimming environment.
Financial pressures also influenced her decision to retire. Smith said she depended on her parents financially for much of her career and later faced pressure associated with performance-based sponsorships.
She also cited difficulties within the South African swimming system, including a dispute over prize money, as factors that contributed to her departure.
With four Olympic medals, Smith is among South Africa’s most decorated Olympians, matching the record held by fellow swimmer Chad le Clos.
Following retirement, Smith struggled to adjust to life away from elite sport. She described the period as an overwhelming experience because her daily routine had previously revolved around training, competition, travel and strict schedules.
She initially accepted public-speaking engagements to support herself before returning to exercise. An attempt to pursue triathlon eventually rekindled her appreciation for swimming.
Smith said repeated visits to the pool made her realise how much she had missed competing in the water.
Her comeback will involve a different approach. Rather than returning to her previous breaststroke programme, she plans to concentrate on the 50m breaststroke, which has been added to the Olympic programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The new event will require greater emphasis on speed and explosive power, contrasting with the endurance-focused preparation she followed throughout her previous career.
Smith has also significantly reduced her workload, training three times a week instead of the eight sessions she previously completed.
She believes the lighter schedule will allow her to maintain a healthier balance while preserving her renewed enthusiasm for the sport.
The swimmer said her return is no longer driven by expectations from others but by a personal desire to compete again.
Having already achieved more than she imagined during her career, Smith said she feels she has nothing left to prove and is now returning because swimming is a choice she wants to make for herself.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong