Swimming SA accused of silencing athletes through restrictive contracts

Detailed summary

‘If a similar case arises, such as the case of Tatjana Smith with all the prize money, athletes are not allowed at all to then go to the media and shed light on this unlawful act,’ says Wian Spies, director at Hurter Spies Attorneys.

JEREMY MAGGS: The decision by South Africa’s most decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith, to swim for the Netherlands has reignited, I think, a much wider debate about how this country is treating its sporting talent, from withheld prize money and restrictive sponsorship agreements to the enormous financial pressures facing athletes and concerns about their freedom to speak out. And serious questions are being asked about the organisations meant to support them.

In that respect, I want to welcome back to the programme, he has spoken to us before, Wian Spies, director at Hurter Spies Attorneys, and he represented Tatjana Smith in that well-publicised prize money dispute. Wian, welcome back to the programme. You’ve been directly involved in that issue. Maybe explain to us what that experience revealed about the relationship between athletes and sporting federations.

WIAN SPIES: Hi, Jeremy, it’s good to be back. The involvement in this case has revealed that there is a very unhealthy relationship between athletes and the sport federations.

The federation, for instance, will pay for travel for the athletes, maybe in certain cases for accommodation. But in most cases, there’s no real financial benefit. There have also been requests made for information, which has been totally ignored. So it’s definitely an unhealthy relationship.

Listen/read: Tatjana Smith turns up heat on Swimming SA prize money dispute Durban’s Olympic bid faces questions over cost, corruption and accountability Penny Heyns on life after swimming for Tatjana Smith [Aug 2024]

JEREMY MAGGS: As far as I understand it, Swimming SA admitted it was wrong to withhold the prize money. Restitution has been made. But what actually went wrong in that particular case, Wian? And what does the admission actually mean?

WIAN SPIES: Yes, Jeremy, I think it sheds light on the whole issue that athletes have and the problems that they face with federations like Swimming South Africa.

JEREMY MAGGS: You alluded to this earlier, that…

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