Tatjana Schoenmaker’s life has changed a lot after her golden performance in the pool for Team South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
That includes her surname, as she is now known as Tatjana Smith after her recent marriage to Joel Smith – the brother-in-law of Springbok double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.
Smith won the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo in 2021, becoming the first South African woman to win an individual gold medal since Penny Heyns at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. She also claimed a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke.
Smith begins her 2024 Olympic campaign in the pool on Sunday morning with the 100m breaststroke heats, knowing that she is one of the country big medal hopes.
“It’s not easy,” Smith said of the expectations. “It’s a daily thing that you have to tell yourself ... you’re not swimming for others’ expectations. Sometimes my expectations are higher than those.
“It’s really just coming back to it, and for me just trusting in God and knowing his plan will work out... that I can just prepare as well as I can.
“It’s about how we react to it and how we see it, and how positive we stay in those situations that counts. I know it’s going to go well, and I’m preparing well.”
👋 Say hello to the new Olympic Record holder in the Women's 100m Breaststroke - introducing South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 25, 2021
Watch the latest #Tokyo2020 highlights: https://t.co/ieeknfINEH pic.twitter.com/RpYFzHr02l
Smith stated that her recent marriage has given her life some balance ahead of the Olympics. It also helps that her new surname doesn’t take up a lot of space on get swimming caps!
“I love it (being married),” she said. “I’m embracing it, and I love that part of life. I’m still getting used to seeing a short surname on my caps!
“It makes you realise swimming is just a season, and there are different seasons. I’m already enjoying another season with my swimming.”
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