“It’s Surreal”: Tatjana Smith Wins Sportswoman and Sports Star of the Year at 2025 Awards
- Tatjana Smith won big at the 2025 South Africa Sports Awards, describing the moment as “surreal” after a tough category of nominees
- The 28-year-old reflected on the sacrifices and passion that shaped her journey, while also opening up about the struggles women face in South African sport
- Smith shared her hopes for the future of swimming, revealing how she plans to use her platform to inspire the next generation and bring change to the sport
South African swimming sensation Tatjana Smith was the star of the night at the 2025 Annual Sports Awards on Sunday, 24 August.
The 28-year-old walked away with two of the evening’s top honours: Sportswoman of the Year and Sports Star of the Year.
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After retiring from professional swimming post-2024 Paris Olympics, she secured her place in history by winning gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke.
Smith is married to Joel Smith, the brother of Rachel Kolisi, the estranged wife of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. After her retirement, she chose to focus on family life and personal growth
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‘It’s surreal’: Smith reflects on double victory.
Speaking exclusively to Briefly News after her triumph, Smith admitted the moment felt unreal.
“No, it’s surreal. I think that’s why everyone was saying it was a tough category, because what Nanni and Mpumelele have achieved has been incredible,” she said.
“The amazing part is we celebrate each other. We don’t feel like anyone was less deserving of this trophy. I think they were just glad because they know I’m never going to be on stage again.”
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Smith spoke about her passion for the sport
Smith credited passion and love for swimming as the driving forces behind her success.
“It takes sacrifice, it takes hard work, but most of all, you have to love the sport that you do,” she explained.
The former Olympian also spoke about how swimming has opened doors for her and underlined her commitment to supporting other athletes. She is actively helping South African swimmers secure sponsorships ahead of future Olympic Games, pointing out the lack of financial backing in sports outside rugby.
“We want swimming and athletics and everything to be like rugby in South Africa,” Smith said, highlighting her vision for broader support.
She also stressed the importance of expanding swimming opportunities in underdeveloped and rural communities, where access to pools and coaching is limited, and encouraging young girls to pursue the sport despite its male-dominated reputation.
Speaking out against gender discrimination in sport
The double award winner also addressed the challenges women continue to face in sport. She revealed,
“I have definitely faced it where they personally told me they were going to choose the guy over me. It’s been tough, but it has made us more resilient.”
Smith also emphasised the importance of using her platform to highlight gender imbalances and encourage change. She expressed a strong desire to help schools identify young swimming talent, aiming to provide the next generation with more opportunities than she had.
Smith reflects on career
Briefly News previously reported that Olympic gold medallist Tatjana Smith (formerly Schoenmaker) marked the first anniversary of her retirement from competitive swimming, reflecting on her illustrious career and affirming she has no plans to return to the pool.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Smith looked back on the emotional journey of her career.
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Source: Briefly News
