Tatjana Smith Biography: Awards, Husband, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height

Tatjana Schoenmaker, professionally known as Tatjana Smith, is a retired South African swimmer specializing in breaststroke events.

She is a two-time Olympic champion and holds the title of the most decorated South African Olympian in history.

Schoenmaker achieved remarkable success at the 2020 Olympic Games, winning gold in the 200-metre breaststroke and silver in the 100-metre breaststroke, setting Olympic records in both events and a world record in the 200-metre breaststroke.

Continuing her dominance, she claimed gold in the 100-metre breaststroke and silver in the 200-metre breaststroke at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Profile

• Full Name: Tatjana Schoenmaker
• Stage Name: Tatjana Smith
• Born: July 9, 1997
• Age: 27 years old
• Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Nationality: South African
• Occupation: South African retired swimmer
• Height: 1.78 m
• Parent: Rene Schoenmaker and Renske Schoenmaker
• Siblings: Fabienne Schoenmaker
• Spouse: Joel Smith
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life And Education

Tatjana Schoenmaker was born on July 9, 1997, in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Rene and Renske Schoenmaker. She has one sibling, Fabienne Schoenmaker.

During her early education, she attended Laerskool Fairland before moving to Hoërskool Noordheuwel. At age 15, she transferred to TuksSport High School in Pretoria, a school known for its focus on high-performance athletics.

Schoenmaker pursued higher education at the University of Pretoria, where she successfully balanced her swimming career with her academics.

In 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) degree. Throughout her journey, she demonstrated determination both in the classroom and the pool. She is of South African ethnicity and is a devout Christian.

Career

Tatjana Smith’s swimming career took off after narrowly missing qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics, which fueled her determination to improve. She excelled at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the 100-metre breaststroke (1:06.41) and 200-metre breaststroke (2:22.02).

In 2021, she set multiple South African records, including a 1:05.74 in the 100-metre breaststroke and a 2:20.17 in the 200-metre breaststroke at the National Championships, earning her a spot at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

These achievements solidified her as a dominant force in breaststroke events. Schoenmaker entered the Tokyo Olympics as a top contender, setting an Olympic record of 1:04.82 in the 100-metre breaststroke heats.

She ultimately secured silver in the event, becoming the first South African woman to win an Olympic swimming medal since 2000. In the 200-metre breaststroke, she broke the world record at 2:18.95, earning gold.

This made her the first South African woman since Penny Heyns in 1996 to win Olympic gold in swimming. Her teammate Kaylene Corbett also reached the finals, marking a historic moment for South African women in the sport.

Continuing her success, Schoenmaker excelled at the 2022 South Africa National Championships and Commonwealth Games. She won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke and silver in the 100-metre breaststroke, showcasing her consistency.

At the National Championships, she qualified for the World Aquatics Championships in multiple events, further cementing her place among the elite swimmers of her time.

In 2023, she maintained her dominance at the South Africa National Championships, winning national titles in the 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke with World Championships qualifying times.

Her silver in the 50-metre breaststroke further underscored her versatility. Later that year, she competed at the Paris Olympics, securing gold in the 100-metre breaststroke and silver in the 200-metre breaststroke, becoming South Africa’s most decorated Olympian.

Schoenmaker announced her retirement after her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics, where she also served as a flag bearer at the closing ceremony.

Her career is celebrated for her record-breaking performances and for inspiring a generation of South African swimmers. Through resilience and consistent excellence, she cemented her legacy as one of the greatest athletes in the country’s history.

Awards and Nominations

Tatjana Smith has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her swimming career:

Olympic Medals:

• Gold in 200m breaststroke (2020, 2024)
• Silver in 100m breaststroke (2020, 2024)

World Championships:

• Gold in 200m breaststroke (2023)
• Silver in 100m breaststroke (2019, 2023)

Swammy Awards:

• African Female Swimmer of the Year (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

SA Sports Awards:

• Sports Star of the Year (2019, 2021)
• Sportswoman of the Year (2019, 2021)
• Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award (2022)  

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @tatjanaschoen
• Facebook handle: Tatjana Schoenmaker
• Twitter handle: @TRSchoenmaker

Personal Life

Tatjana Smith is married to Joel Smith, a sports manager and the brother of rugby star Rachel Kolisi. The couple confirmed their relationship in February 2023, quickly becoming a celebrated pair in South African sports circles. They tied the knot on November 4, 2023, in a beautiful ceremony held in Robertson, South Africa.

Net Worth

Tatjana Smith’s estimated net Worth is approximately $2 million as of 2024. Her impressive earnings stem from her highly successful swimming career, which included multiple Olympic medals and world records.

In addition to her achievements in the pool, she has secured lucrative endorsement deals with major brands, further boosting her financial standing.