In what was a nail-biting Women’s 200m Breaststroke final, South African swimmer Tatjana Smith could only settle for a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday night.
Smith, who clocked 2:19:60, fought a good fight underwater but could only settle for the second position – inches behind the speedy Kate Douglass (2:19.24) of the United States.
Smith’s teammate Kaylene Corbett was miles away from clinching a podium finish as she ended up on number seven.
Despite Smith losing the race and not being able to defend her 200m crown, she is now SA’s greatest Olympian ever with two gold and two silver medals.
The 27-year-old was the first South African to win gold medals at two different Olympic Games in real-time.
She now adds to SA’s medal tally and takes it to four after she bagged the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke earlier this week.
After the race, Smith announced that she will be retiring from competitive swimming after what was yet another standout performance at the Paris Olympics.
“I’m done. I’m officially done. It’s a relief, but I definitely know I’m probably tomorrow going to miss it.
“It’s been a big part of my life. It’s 22 years that I’ve been swimming and it’s been a big part of my family’s life,” Smith said.
“That’s what sport’s about — that battle and everyone wants to touch the wall first. But I’m just as happy to get the silver medal.
“I love that competitiveness and it’s amazing to now celebrate the new champion. She has so much more to come.
“To end off my career with a big fight was so worth it. I’m so grateful that I still get to walk away with the medal and leave my career walking away from the Olympics with two medals. I’m a double Olympian, I couldn’t complain.”
Another South African who was in action in the Men’s 200m backstroke final was Pieter Coetze, who finished seventh. Coetze might have not won the race but set a new African record in the Men’s 200m backstroke with a time of 1:55:47.
