"Pack proper walking shoes": Tatjana Smith's Paris travel tips

Congratulations on your historic win at the 2024 Olympic Games! As our Discovery Vitality CEO Dinesh Govender said at your homecoming, you really did make all of us South Africans feel like we won gold that day.

But the Olympics also took you to Paris, the city of love, of culture, of cuisine... Tell us what Paris was like for you during the Olympics.

The beauty is that we got to experience not just Paris... but Paris with the Olympics. We can always go back and experience the "normal" Paris, but never the way we did with all the Olympic activities. It was very unique having people from all across world come together in a country for the same purpose.

Did you have opportunities to explore Paris outside of the Olympic venues? If so, what were some of your favourite things?

Yes, I did! I'd have to say my favourite place would be the classic Eiffel Tower. Especially at night with all the lights on.

Best things to do and see?

Taking a sunset cruise down the Seine and watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night.

And your favourite food?

Definitely all the bread. Especially the delicious baguette and croissants!

What practical advice do you have for first-time visitors to Paris?

Pack proper walking shoes because you walk a lot. It is fun but not when your shoes are uncomfortable.

Besides the Olympics, what was the most memorable moment of your trip?

I loved having my family there and getting to celebrate not only my achievements but the end of my swimming journey of 22 years.

How did competing in Paris compare to your previous Olympic experience in Tokyo? Which other countries have you visited as a professional athlete?

It was very different. What makes each Olympics unique is that every country tries to incorporate as much of their culture into the Olympic Village as possible for us to experience. So the culture and the food was very different. But the biggest difference was having family and spectators in Paris which we did not have in Tokyo in 2020 because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Other countries... Fortunately for me, there are too many to mention but a few places I've visited include Australia, South Korea, Botswana and Italy.

If you could go back to explore the rest of France, where would you go and why?

I'd love to see the countryside and the small French villages.

Henry Miller said, "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." How did your travels to France change you? How did you feel upon arriving home?

South Africa will always have my heart. Seeing and experiencing new places and countries is a blessing but nothing compares to our beautiful country and people.

Thank you, Tatjana, for sharing your story with Vitality Traveller.