Swimmer Tatjana (Schoenmaker) Smith became South Africa’s most-successful Olympian of all time when she won gold in the 100m women’s breaststroke at Paris 2024 on Monday 29 July.

With two golds and a silver medal, she moves to the top of the SA medals table. At the Olympics, ranking is based on gold medals with silver and bronze used as tie-breakers.

At Tokyo 2020, Smith won gold in the 200m breaststroke and came second in the 100m. She currently holds the Olympic records for both the 100m and 200m. The 27-year-old is still to contest her 200m breaststroke title. The heat and semifinals are on Wednesday, while the final is on Thursday 1 August.

Three other South Africans have achieved double gold: Tennis player Charles Winslow in 1912, adding a bronze four years later; swimmer Penny Heyns in 1996m, with a bronze in 2000; and 800m specialist Caster Semenya, who won in 2012 and 2016. She is South Africa’s only black female medalist.