Two-time Olympic swimming champion Tatyana Smith has announced her retirement at age 27.

South African swimmer Tatiana Smith who previously performed under the name Schoonmaker, has announced his professional retirement at the age of 27.

On Thursday, Smith won silver at the Paris Olympics in the 200m breaststroke. Earlier, at the Games in the French capital, the swimmer had won gold in a distance half as long.

“Of course I love swimming and what I do, but I definitely think my career is over. I’m a very lucky athlete. A lot of people dream of achieving what I have, but for me it’s never been about medals. I always try to challenge myself, to push myself, and this race was all about pushing and pulling.

Now I embrace life and see what is outside of swimming. Throughout my career, I have focused only on swimming, because to stay motivated, you have to be passionate about the sport, and I have never changed my mindset. Tomorrow will be the first day without swimming. I don’t know if I will look at a pool in the next 10 years.

Maybe you’ll see me at the next Olympics, but as a staff member. I’d like to be there as a spectator. I’ll try to find something to do that I enjoy. “I’ve given myself six months to calmly understand everything,” Smith quotes the International Olympic Committee press office as saying.

Smith is a winner and silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, and also has a gold and two silver medals at the world championships.

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