Tuks swimmer set for Olympic glory
Tatjana Smith, the fastest swimmer in the 200m-breaststroke, is eyeing victory in this item again.
As the Paris Olympics approaches, all eyes are on Tuks swimmer Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker), who has consistently demonstrated her big-match temperament on the global stage.
Smith is set to compete in the 200m-breaststroke on August 1, and with her potential, she may become the second South African athlete to win gold in the same event at two consecutive Olympic Games.
Since 2018, Smith has medalled at every major event that she has competed in, including the Tokyo Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and World University Games.
She has also set a world record in the 200m-breaststroke and became the first South African female swimmer to win a world-long course swimming title last year.
Tuks swimming head coach Rocco Meiring, said that there would be a lot of expectation for outstanding performances and world records at this year’s Olympic Games.
“Many will try to guess who the winners and medallists of the swimming events will be. Obviously, it is tough to predict who they will be,” he said.
He said that he expects her to be a strong contender in the 200m-breaststroke, particularly given her current status as the fastest swimmer in the event this year.
Meiring anticipated that there would be tight competition from Russia’s Evgenia Chikunova, who set a world record last year.
“There is no official confirmation, but there are rumours that Chikunov will be competing in Paris. I have Tatjana to prepare herself to swim against the Russians,” he said.
He said that Smith would have her work cut out if she wanted to win gold in the 200m-breaststroke again.
Meiring said that Smith’s preparation for the Paris Olympics has been far from ideal.
Smith’s build-up to the Games has not been without its challenges.
Meiring said that she sustained a grade 2 tear in a muscle crucial in upper body movements when swimming, which forced her to take a 10-day break from training.
“Despite this setback, she was determined to compete in the National Championships, where she adapted her swimming technique to mitigate the injury and went on to win every final,” he concluded.
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