WATCH: Gold medalist Tatjana Smith gets hero's welcome on return from Olympics
Smith and Team South Africa's athletes who took part in the Paris Olympic games arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Smith with fans at OR Tambo International Airport. Picture: EWN/Mawande Mateza
JOHANNESBURG - Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Smith returned home to a hero's welcome.
Smith and Team South Africa's athletes who took part in the Paris Olympic games arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
The surprised look on Smith's face when she saw hundreds of people gathered at the arrivals terminal to welcome her soon gave way and her congenial smile returned.
WATCH: Hundreds of fans gather to welcome SA's Olympians home
Over deafening cheers, she made her way through the procession and took the time to take selfies with every adoring supporter who asked, most of whom were young girls.
Smith became the country’s most decorated Olympian after winning a gold and a silver medal in Paris before announcing her retirement from swimming.
More of Team South Africa's athletes, including members of the silver medalist relay squad will arrive later on Tuesday.
Gold medalist Tatjana Smith is the first of Team SA’s Olympians to make an appearance at the arrivals terminal this morning. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/rH37YgWcYy
— EWN_Sport (@EWN_Sport) August 13, 2024