The amazing world of women in sport in South Africa is still in awe of the exceptional evening at Wanderers Stadium on the 12th of September at the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards. Possibly the most epic moment of the night was seeing Tatjana Smith being crowned Momentum Athlete of the Year.
Smith, who became the first South African woman to win a world title in the 200m Breaststroke, claimed the top honour after a stellar season that also saw her win silver in the 100m and secure the South African title, before she headed off to Paris for the Olympic Games. In France, she did what we’ve known her for—putting SA on the map, especially in aquatics.
The Momentum Athlete of the Year accolade, awarded to a South African sportswoman who has excelled at an international level, is the biggest award of the night, and often you can tell by a few things: Firstly – It is always fiercely contested—you’ll find only the best of the best female athletes from South Africa, but with talent that has gone beyond our borders.
Joining Smith were incomparable Proteas women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt and judoka Michaela Whitebooi, who famously became the first female South African judoka to qualify for two consecutive Olympics.
Secondly, On the night of the awards, it’s the most highly anticipated moment, leaving everyone wondering which of the three deserving finalists will walk away with the special crown.
And thirdly, once the winner has been announced, you’ll hear the loud cheers reverberating from the Wanderers Ballroom. It’s usually the final moment that lingers in our minds as we celebrate and enjoy the after-party of SA’s most important night on the sports calendar.
It was no different for the Johannesburg-born Smith, a young woman who has represented SA on the most iconic stages, at some point becoming the medal hope for Team South Africa. You could hear it in most conversations leading up to major events like the Swimming World Champs and the Olympics: “Tatjana is definitely coming back with a medal!” “If everyone struggles, at least we know Tatjana will come back with a medal.” From overcritical journalists to highly expectant South Africans, we all placed our faith in her.
Smith was the toast of the event even before she received thunderous applause as she walked up to the stage to be greeted by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, and Group Chief Marketing Officer of Momentum Group Limited, Nontokozo Madonsela.
Smith was captured having fun with fellow women in sport doing the viral Candy Salad trend. She also popped a bottle of G.H. Mumm on the Red Carpet with gsport Digital Squad rock star Kea Bapela and was seen chatting away with the Sunday Times A-List’s Craig Jacobs and his photographer Masi Losi, who snapped Smith and her husband Joel on the red carpet. The Sunday after the awards, the Smiths were front and centre of the Sunday Times A-List.
Women in sport are the celebrities—from the pool to the red carpet to the stage to the Sunday papers—the brand of women’s sport is building, and stars like Tatjana Smith have led the way. She will now refocus her attention post-retirement to making a difference in the lives of other women in sport.
In her acceptance speech, Smith said this triumph represents a village. “I know swimming is an individual sport, but it really takes a team and a village to get to where I am today.”
“I want to honour the people in my village, and that would be my parents. I’m so thankful that they never made me feel they wanted a boy. They always treated me and brought me up as a child, not as a girl child. They challenged me, and it really prepared me to face the obstacles as a woman in sports and to be able to stand here today and achieve the things that I have.”
2024 Momentum Athlete of the Year, Tatjana Smith
Smith is now Mzansi’s most decorated Olympic athlete with four medals. Speaking after winning what will be her final Olympic medal, following her retirement from the sport at the Paris La Défense Arena after the 200m breaststroke final, she said: “I’m so grateful that I still get to walk away with a medal. I’m walking away from the Olympics with two medals; I’m a double Olympian, so I can’t complain. I’m officially done. It’s a relief, but I definitely know I’ll probably miss it already by tomorrow.”
We’ve seen what Tatjana can do in the pool, but we should be equally excited for what’s to come in her career. In closing her acceptance speech, it’s clear that South African youngsters and future swimming stars will benefit from the legacy she has built.
She concluded: “Obviously, I’ve always believed I’ve been blessed, now to bless others. And if I can lighten the burden for the women to come, that is what it’s all about. Thank you to my parents.”
Main Photo Caption: The 2024 Momentum Athlete of the Year winner, aquatics champ Tatjana Smith, aims to lighten the burden of those who will follow in her footsteps following her retirement from competitive swimming after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Smith is pictured following her unveiling with Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe (left), and Group Chief Marketing Officer of Momentum Group Limited, Nontokozo Madonsela. Photo: gsport / Rebecca Hearfield
Photo 2 Caption: Tatjana Smith and hubby Joel Smith pictured on the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards red carpet ahead of the event. Photo: gsport / Sachin du Plooy-Naran
Photo 3 Caption: Smith enjoyed fun doing the viral Candy Salad trend, and also popped a bottle of G.H. Mumm with Kea Bapela. Photo: gsport / Nicolise Harding
Photo 4 Caption: Tatjana Smith pictured with #gsport19 Digital Squad members Cato Louw, Lonwabo Nkohla and Lesego Pooe. Photo: gsport / Sachin du Plooy-Naran
Photo 5 Caption: All 2024 Momentum gsport Award winners take to the stage following the conclusion of the #gsport19 live broadcast. Photo: gsport / Sachin du Plooy-Naran
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