Tatjana Smith picked up where she left off, claiming another national title and setting two personal bests on her return to competitive swimming on day one of the SA Short Course Championships at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 24 September 2026.
The Olympic champion announced her return with an impressive opening swim in the 50m breaststroke, her new specialist event, winning her morning heat in 29.90 seconds and then going even faster in the evening to take the title in 29.50 seconds.
Both times were under the required qualifying mark for the World Short Course Championships in Beijing, China from 1 to 6 December, an event that will herald her return to international competition.
Smith was thrilled with her first day back.
“I think this morning I was very surprised. It’s the first race, a new event; there are a lot of things going on in your mind, and it’s not a space where you feel comfortable, like I used to in my 200m.
“So I was very surprised with that time, especially because I didn’t feel like I executed it that well… But I didn’t do so bad. Not bad at all. Two PBs in one day, so, very happy.”
SA Short Course Championships 50m Breaststroke Champion, Tatjana Smith
Also securing her place on the team for Beijing was Duné Coetzee, swimming in her home pool after a recent move to train in Pietermaritzburg.
Coetzee achieved the qualifying time in the heats of the 400m freestyle, finishing in 4:05.54. She went slightly slower in the final but still took the title in 4:06.29.
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“I just decided this morning that I really want to go for it because I like to get it done and out of the way, and now I can just have some fun,” Coetzee said afterwards.
“I must say I was stressed this morning, because it’s kind of a lot of pressure to put on yourself for your opening race, and it’s also my first tapered race on my new programme. So, I definitely was feeling some nerves.”
SA Short Course Championships 400m Freestyle Champion, Duné Coetzee
Several other women achieved B qualifying times for the World Short Course Championships, keeping them in contention for selection. Mila van der Linde won the 100m backstroke title in 59.35, while Abigail Kotze 59.11 and Anje van As 59.21 both dipped under the B qualifier in the 100m butterfly.
There were also two B qualifiers in the 200m individual medley, with Georgia Nel taking the title in 2:13.10 and Sofia French second in 2:13.71.
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Swimming action resumes at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool on Friday, 25 September and continues until Sunday, 27 September.
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Olympic champion Tatjana Smith marked her return to competitive swimming by winning the 50m breaststroke national title in 29.50 seconds, a personal best, and qualifying for the World Short Course Championships in Beijing, China, on the opening day of the SA Short Course Championships at the GC Jolliffe Swimming Pool in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Photo: Supplied
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