Sports

Anele Mdoda Defends Tatjana Smith Following Netherlands Switch, Tells Olympic Star To Put Herself First

David Naidoo Published 16 hours ago

4 min read

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South African radio and television personality Anele Mdoda has publicly thrown her support behind Olympic swimming champion Tatjana Smith following the athlete’s decision to change her international sporting allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands.

Smith’s announcement on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, sparked widespread discussion among South Africans, with many questioning why one of the country’s most successful Olympic athletes had decided to compete under another nation’s flag.

However, Mdoda was among the public figures who came out in support of the swimmer, encouraging her to prioritise herself as she prepares for the next chapter of her career.

Responding to Smith’s announcement, Mdoda commented: “Sisi. Start with yourself 😍”

Her response was interpreted as a message of support for Smith’s decision to put her personal wellbeing, career and future ambitions first, rather than allowing public expectations to dictate her choices.

Why Tatjana Smith Decided To Represent The Netherlands

Smith, 29, holds both South African and Dutch citizenship and explained that the decision was influenced by her Dutch heritage, the opportunity to experience a different sporting environment and the support available to her as a professional athlete.

She said the move would allow her to explore another part of her identity while giving herself a better opportunity to build a sustainable swimming career.

Smith also acknowledged that financial and practical challenges had contributed to making her previous swimming career difficult to sustain.

The swimmer said she wanted to protect her renewed love for the sport and give herself the best possible opportunity to pursue her next Olympic dream.

Her decision comes after she retired from competitive swimming following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games before announcing her return to the pool in September 2026.

Smith’s Record-Breaking Career For South Africa

Smith leaves behind an impressive record in South African swimming.

She won four Olympic medals across the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

At the Tokyo Olympics, she won gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke, setting a world record, and silver in the 100m breaststroke.

Three years later, at the Paris Olympics, she won gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m breaststroke.

Her achievements made her South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.

She also made history at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, where she became the first South African woman to win a gold medal at the competition after winning the 200m breaststroke.

Swimming South Africa Dispute

Smith’s decision has also brought renewed attention to her previous disagreements with Swimming South Africa.

In 2023, the federation withheld her US$35,000 prize money from the World Aquatics Championships after informing her that she had competed in the wrong kit.

The money was eventually paid more than a year later, around the time of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

However, the interest accrued during the delay was only paid after legal demands were made.

Smith has previously raised concerns about athlete welfare and her relationship with the federation.

She has also spoken about the importance of creating a sporting environment in which athletes receive the support they need to develop their careers.

Smith Will Continue Living And Training In South Africa

Despite changing her international sporting allegiance, Smith is not leaving South Africa.

She will remain based in the country and continue training with the team that has been part of her swimming journey.

She will also maintain her involvement in South African sport through the Lighthouse Sport Foundation, which supports athletes and aims to create opportunities for more people to participate in sport.

Her first international competition representing the Netherlands is scheduled to be the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Beijing, China, from 1 to 6 December 2026.

She is also working towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where the introduction of the 50m breaststroke provides another competitive opportunity.

Smith has formally notified both Swimming South Africa and the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation of her decision, which has been confirmed by World Aquatics.

Her announcement has prompted mixed reactions from South Africans, with some expressing disappointment while others have defended her right to choose the sporting environment in which she believes she can achieve her goals.

Mdoda’s supportive response is among the public reactions to the decision, with the broadcaster encouraging the Olympic champion to put herself first.