Summary of the Story:
- Tatjana Smith secured South Africa’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 100m breaststroke.
- Smith is set to compete in her preferred event, the 200m breaststroke.
- Her victory in Paris marks her first Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke after winning silver in Tokyo 2020.
- Smith holds multiple records, including the former world record in the 200m breaststroke.
- She has received numerous awards, including African Female Swimmer of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year.
Tatjana Smith secured South Africa’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after a stunning comeback in the 100m breaststroke event on Monday evening.
Tatjana Smith adds gold to Team SA’s tally at the 2024 Paris Olympics
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Coming from behind, Smith took first place with a time of 1:05.28, narrowly edging out her competitors.
This victory marks her first Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke, adding to the silver she won in Tokyo three years ago.
Smith, who is a 200m breaststroke specialist, demonstrated her resilience by overcoming a slow start and finishing strong in the last 25 metres of the race.
Tatjana Smith fixtures at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Following her gold medal performance in the 100m breaststroke, Tatjana Smith is set to compete in her preferred event, the 200m breaststroke.
The heats for this event are scheduled for 11:00 on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Smith, who holds the Olympic record for this event with a time of 2:18.95, is a strong contender and aims to add another gold to her tally.
Five things to know about Tatjana Smith
- Record Holder: Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker) is a former world record holder in the long course 200-metre breaststroke and holds African records in the long course and short course 100-metre breaststroke, as well as the short course 200-metre breaststroke. She also previously held the African record in the long course 50-metre breaststroke and the South African record in the short course 50-metre breaststroke.
- Olympic Achievements: At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Smith won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke, setting a world record, and silver in the 100-metre breaststroke. Her performance in Tokyo made her the first woman to swim the 200-metre breaststroke in under 2:19.00.
- Awards and Recognition: Smith has been recognised with numerous awards, including the African Female Swimmer of the Year multiple times, SA Sports Awards’ Sports Star of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year, and the Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award. She was also listed in SwimSwam’s Top 100 Women in 2021 and 2022.
- Consistent Excellence: Smith has consistently performed at the highest level, winning accolades like the Swammy Award for African Female Swimmer of the Year in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Her achievements have placed her among the top swimmers globally, earning her the African Female Swimmer of the Year award from Swimming World in 2021.
- Inspirational Journey: Born on 9 July 1997, Tatjana Smith has risen through the ranks of competitive swimming to become one of South Africa’s most celebrated athletes. Her journey from a promising young swimmer to an Olympic gold medalist is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and talent.
Tatjana Smith’s remarkable achievements and contributions to South African swimming continue to inspire young athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.