Swimmer Tatjana Smith thanks God after winning Olympic gold: “Because of you, for you”
The South African swimmer wins the 100m breaststroke gold in Paris and shows gratitude to “God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit”.
Protestante Digital · PARIS · 30 JULY 2024 · 18:30 CET
South African swimmer Tatjana Smith (Schoenmaker) has won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at Paris 2024 with a time of 1 minute 5 seconds.
At Tokyo 2020 she became the first South African woman since 1996 to win a gold medal, when she won the 200m breaststroke and also won silver in the 100m breaststroke.
The “golden girl”, as she is known in South Africa, married her fiancé, sports agent Joel Smith, in November 2023, which is why she is listed as Tatjana Smith at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Because of you, for you”
Hours after winning his first medal, Smith Schoenmaker posted a picture on social media of a T-shirt with all the people and sponsors he thanked for their support. “My community”, it reads.
The first three names on it are “God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit”. Furthermore, in larger letters, at the top of the T-shirt, it reads: “'Because of you, for you”.
Swimming for the glory of God
Ten weeks before the start of the Olympics, Schoenmaker posted a selfie on social media saying she was "very excited to swim for the glory of God and to represent her country while doing so”.
It is not the first time the South African swimmer has spoken openly about her Christian faith. At Tokyo 2020 she already prayed to God that "His will be done”.
As she did then when collecting her gold and silver medals, in Paris 2024, Schoenmaker also collected her gold medal with two earrings featuring a cross.
One more year
Learn all about our #OneMoreYearEF campaign here (English).
Published in: Evangelical Focus - culture - Swimmer Tatjana Smith thanks God after winning Olympic gold: “Because of you, for you”