Tatjana Smith capped off her glittering swimming career with a night to remember at the SA Sport Awards in Sun City, where she walked away with two of the evening’s biggest prizes, Sportswoman of the Year and Sport Star of the Year.
Reflecting on the recognition, Smith described the moment as both humbling and meaningful, allowing her to look back on the hard-fought road that carried her to the top. ‘Every award means something different and is something special. The journey to achieve this award was really tough before the Paris Olympic Games,’ she told SABC Sport.
The 28-year-old, who brought home a gold and silver medal from Paris before announcing her retirement, admitted that being celebrated as the nation’s ‘Golden Girl’ was an honour, but one that carried its own pressure.
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Even with her early exit from competitive swimming, Smith is determined to remain a role model and to give back to the sport that defined her. She hopes to inspire young athletes and to play a role in strengthening the future of South African swimming.
Her message to aspiring champions is simple but firm: discipline is non-negotiable. ‘Sacrifices are part of this sport, but most of all, never lose your love for the sport, because it is so easy to lose the love if you’re confronted with issues like financing, or lack of family time,’ she said.
Smith also acknowledged the significance of her awards being handed over during Women’s Month, though she was quick to stress that recognition for women should not be restricted to August. ‘I think we should be celebrating women throughout the year, and not just in August. That’s why I didn’t want to mention anything about that in my speeches because we should not only be categorised in this month.’
For Smith, the double triumph at the SA Sport Awards was more than a career milestone, it was the perfect send-off for an athlete whose journey has left an indelible mark on South African sport.
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Picture: Paul Mashatile / X
