Tatjana Smith to Return to Competition at SA Short Course Championships in Pietermaritzburg
- Four-time Olympic medallist Tatjana Smith announced her return to competitive swimming after retiring following the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Smith is set to compete in three breaststroke events and several relays with her new Stellenbosch-based team, Lane Leader
- Fellow swimmers Michael Houlie and Duné Coetzee both weighed in on what Smith's comeback could mean for South African swimming
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Four-time Olympic medallist Tatjana Smith is set to return to competitive swimming at the South African Short Course Championships, scheduled to take place in Pietermaritzburg from 24 to 27 September 2026.
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Smith, formerly known as Schoenmaker, announced her retirement following a gold and silver medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her decision to come back has generated considerable interest in the upcoming championships, where she will represent her new Stellenbosch-based club, Lane Leader.
She is entered in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, as well as several relay events.
Houlie and Coetzee react to comeback
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michael Houlie, who was part of Team SA alongside Smith at the Tokyo Olympics, said her return carried a note of caution for the rest of the field.
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Houlie added that Smith's freedom from expectation made her particularly formidable. Duné Coetzee, who also competed alongside Smith at Tokyo, was equally enthusiastic.
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Houlie competing for the first time since 2018
Houlie will compete at the SA Short Course Championships for the first time since 2018, entering the 50m and 100m breaststroke and the 50m freestyle as he builds towards the World Short Course Championships in Beijing in December. Coetzee, who recently relocated to Pietermaritzburg to train at Seals Swimming Club under coach Wayne Riddin, is entered in eight individual freestyle and butterfly events.
Other notable competitors include Commonwealth Games relay medallists Hannah Pearse, Georgia Nel, Guy Brooks and Chris Smith, as well as Para swimmer Christian Sadie, who claimed gold in the S7 50m freestyle in Glasgow.
Smith's reported comeback comes after Swimming South Africa agreed to pay her the full interest owed on prize money that was withheld for over a year. Her attorney has filed a complaint with the Information Regulator over the federation's sponsorship deal with Arena.
Rachel Kolisi shows Tatjana Smith support amid swimming SA dispute
Briefly News previously reported that Tatjana Smith shared a joyful collection of personal moments on Instagram, prompting a warm message from her sister-in-law, Rachel Kolisi.
Rachel responded to the Olympic champion’s post with, “Loooove you!!”, as fans celebrated the special moments shared by Smith.
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Source: Briefly News
