Tatjana Smith capped off her glittering swimming career with a night to remember at the SA Sport Awards in Sun City, where she walked away with two of the evening's biggest prizes, Sportswoman of the Year and Sport Star of the Year.
Reflecting on the recognition, Smith described the moment as both humbling and meaningful, allowing her to look back on the hard-fought road that carried her to the top. 'Every award means something different and is something special. The journey to achieve this award was really tough before the Paris Olympic Games,' she told SABC Sport .
The 28-year-old, who brought home a gold and silver medal from Paris before announcing her retirement , admitted that being celebrated as the nation's 'Golden Girl' was an honour, but one that carried its own pressure.