With the Olympics in full swing, South Africa's focus has switched to our champion swimmer Tatjana Smith, formerly Schoenmaker, who bagged the country’s first gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics.
The champion swimmer, who bagged gold this week in the 100 metre women’s breaststroke got married to Joel Smith last year. Joel’s famous sister is none other than Rachel Kolisi, the wife of the two-time winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
Tatjana is set to compete again on Wednesday, July 31 in the heats and semi-finals of the women’s 200m breaststroke, with the final on Thursday, August 1.
So, who is Joel Smith?
Joel, 30, is the brother of Rachel Kolisi, wife of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. It seems the Smith family has a knack for connecting with top South African sports stars who have an affinity with gold and sporting excellence.
Joel and Tatjana tied the knot in November 2023 at the scenic Pat Busch Mountain Reserve in Robertson.
Joel works as a consultant at the Kolisi Foundation which was established by Siya and Rachel in April 2020. The foundation aims to support under-resourced communities in South Africa by providing resources, facilitating capacity-building, and advocating for systemic change.
A travel enthusiast, Joel's Instagram showcases his visits to New York, California, London, and other destinations.
Their romance went public on Valentine’s Day 2023 when Joel shared a photo of Tatjana on Instagram. Tatjana made their relationship "Instagram official" in March 2023, posting a picture of them at a rugby stadium.
Before her marriage to Joel, Tatjana was in a relationship with fellow swimmer Ruan Ras.
As Tatjana continues to shine at the Olympics, her personal life and athletic achievements are captivating South Africans.
IOL Lifestyle