Tatjana Schoenmaker

Hometown

Johannesburg

Activity

Breaststroke

Speedo Elite Athlete - Tatjana Schoenmaker

I am 23 years old and graduated in 2020 with a degree in BCom Financial Sciences. I love spending time with friends and family and trying out new food places - cause I love eating and food. My favourite treat meal is carrot cake and iced coffee from Woolworths. I started swimming at five years old (water safety) and competing at age 8. At age 15, I joined the TuksSport School, where I started swimming professionally. After a year, my times were improving, and I made my first SA Team - this is when I started loving swimming. Being part of a team, even when it is an individual sport and being able to travel the world while representing my country makes swimming such an incredible sport.

Why swimming, and how did you get into the sport?

I guess swimming chose me, haha. I always took part in many sports in primary school, swimming being one of them. At age eight, I then had my first competition and won the 25m fly. My parents decided that swimming was for me and that I had a talent for it.

What has been your most memorable swim to date?

Definitely, my 200m breast swim at the Commonwealth Games. Even though Word Champs was my highest achievement so far, Commies was just an amazing experience. Having my parents in the stands with some of our family friends and winning my first major competition. My 100m swim was also just as memorable, though!

On days or in times like these where you face many challenges as athletes, what keeps you inspired?

Knowing that all things happen for a reason, I should trust God for His reasons. Also, knowing that we are all facing the same challenge and that we can get through it together.

Please share your 2021 goals and events in which you are aiming to partake.

I would love to make the team go to the Olympics for the 100m and 200m breast, ultimately improving my times and learning things to grow.

What is the best advice you can give to a new swimmer?

Focus on yourself and your improvements. We always tend to compare ourselves with others, but our journey of improvement is different to someone else’s. As long as you are improving yourself, little or big - you will get there!

Apart from swimming, what are your other passions or hobbies?

I love spending time with family and friends, and all the better while enjoying some good food.

Finally, why Speedo and what is your favourite training piece?

Speedo has always been there for me, supporting me in the times when I was ‘nowhere’ in swimming. They will always remain close to my heart. My favourite training piece is hard to choose, but maybe the costumes and goggles as I love all the bright colours and always enjoy matching them all up.