South Africa’s most decorated Olympian Tatjana Smith says the moments she shares with fans are far more special than stepping on the podium with a gold medal around her neck.
That’s not to say that hearing the SA anthem at the Paris Olympics is not an incredibly proud moment, it’s just that interacting with local fans tugs at the heart strings a little more for Smith.
The 27-year-old was captured on video by this IOL Sport reporter receiving a R100 note as a token of appreciation upon her return to South Africa at OR Tambo International earlier this month.
On Saturday, in an exclusive interview at an Under Armour event in Sandton in celebration of Smith’s achievements, the swimmer spoke about that heartwarming exchange.
‘So special’
“Yes, R100 - how special! It was so special, it was really not necessary. She said if she could she would give me more.
“For me it was the heart behind it. It was the fact that she was so happy and she just wanted to celebrate me,” Smith told IOL Sport.
“It showed her big heart and how much she cared. Those are the moments - you think the gold medal moment on the podium is the most special - but those ones I treasure more than the moment on the podium.”
With her two golds and two silvers across the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, the four-medal tally of Smith is what makes her SA’s most decorated Olympian.
When asked what that title meant to Smith, her answer revealed why she is the epitome of humility.
“It’s so strange. It doesn’t sound like it should be in the same sentence. It’s never been the goal.
“I’ve never tried to go for certain achievements. It was always being the best version of myself, and challenge myself. That was the ultimate goal, and I’ve achieved more than that. It’s still something to get used to.”
Before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Smith had claimed double gold in her favoured 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Though Smith had always aimed to reach her full potential, she had never solely focussed on winning Olympic medals.
“It was just about setting those smaller goals. We know that not everyone is going to reach the gold medal. Not everyone is going to reach the Olympics. It’s not giving up on that and allowing it to motivate you, but not define you.
“It’s all the things you have to face on the journey that are character-building that I really valued about swimming the most. I pushed myself to do it because I knew there was so much for me to grow to be the best version of myself. We will never reach that point. But to allow that journey of swimming to help me for the best version, was amazing.”
On Saturday, Smith was also given the honour of leading her brother-in-law and Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi out onto the field for their Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. The hosts would go on to edge New Zealand 31-27 in a nail-biting clash.
Away from the sports field, Smith said she enjoyed spending time with Kolisi.
“He’s just a human. Sometimes we put athletes on pedestals. But he’s just a really nice, funny guy. I enjoy his company. We can always speak.
“We both have a heart for South Africa, especially to make a change in the South African sports industry. We can bounce off ideas, but otherwise we try to not speak too much about sport.”
Having announced her retirement immediately after her last race at the Paris Olympics, Smith is now relishing trying out some new sports, without added the pressure of elite competition.
“I’ve been trying running. I’m a water animal so I don’t know how I look while I run. It is really hard because it’s an impact sport so I’m not really used to it.
“But I’m very open to anything even if it’s something as small as a hike. Just something different to swimming, I’m excited to try out.”