Double Olympic Gold Medalist Tatjana Smith Emerges from Retirement to Chase LA 2028

Double Olympic champion Tatjana Smith is returning to competitive swimming, with the goal of participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old, South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, stated she was “missing the water,” describing her return as feeling “a little crazy, a little scary, and very exciting all at once.”

Smith, who won gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m at the Paris 2024 Games, as well as gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Games, plans to compete in the new Olympic 50m event.

“This represents a completely new challenge—a new event, a new race, and a new version of myself,” she noted.

“For the first time, I am actively choosing swimming, selecting the event, and embracing a discipline with no prior history, to write some new history.”

“LA 2028 remains my goal. It is not a guarantee. I still need to build a race, qualify, and earn my spot back on the starting blocks.”

The former world record holder in the 200m breaststroke initially stepped away from the sport following the 2024 Olympics.

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