South Africa’s Tatjana Smith confirmed her retirement on Thursday after winning a silver medal in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke.
The 27-year-old came to Paris as the defending champion but was edged by American Kate Douglass.
Smith won the 100 metres breaststroke title earlier this week and said it was time to hang up her goggles.
“I think it’s really just now embracing life and seeing what’s outside of swimming, what my passions are outside of swimming,” she said.
“I think when I was swimming I was really focusing on swimming because to stay motivated you need to be passionate about your sport, and I never really shifted my mind.
“Now it’s going to be tomorrow is day one of the life without swimming.”
Tatjana Smith secures silver in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke, earning her second medal at Paris 2024. 🥈🏊♀️
We couldn’t be prouder! 🇿🇦🎉#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics2024 pic.twitter.com/KZ9UYW6i7K— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 1, 2024
She walks away with two Olympic gold medals and two silvers.
The four medals of Tatjana Smith makes her the most decorated South African Olympian in history, matching Chad Le Clos‘ tally of four medals, but with one more gold medal compared to Le Clos’ one.
