Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 66, January 2015 | Page 17

feature

Ma

Cruise Control
After two hugely successful years in
the sport of triathlon, including four
African championship titles, wins
on the international tri circuit and a
Commonwealth Games team silver,
Henri Schoeman is fired up for the
New Year while planning ahead for
the 2016 Rio Olympics.
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

T

wo big wins in October really put the icing
on the proverbial cake for Henri’s 2014 triathlon
year, as the 23-year-old won the ITU Triathlon
World Cup event in Tongyeong, South Korea and
then defended his 5150 African Champs title
in Germiston a week later. Earlier in the year,
despite starting 2014 with an injury, he had
bounced back with a bang to successfully defend
his African Championship title in Zimbabwe
in April, beating the likes of fellow South
Africans Richard Murray and Wian Sullwald,
and then in August he was in Glasgow for the
Commonwealth Games, where he placed 17th
in the individual event and helped the SA team
win the silver medal in the mixed relay event,
alongside Kate Roberts, Gillian Sanders and
Richard.

Images: Foto Asylum, courtesy Henri Schoeman

With such a successful 2014 behind him, to go
with an equally successful 2013, Henri’s road to
the Rio 2016 is well on track, and he says that
getting to the Olympics is very much his focus
right now. “I always look at the bigger picture,
and with the experience gathered in 2014, I can

now focus on getting more podium finishes and
wrack up as many good performances on the
WTS circuit as possible this year to get qualified
for Rio. The Olympics is always in my sights!”

Swim Sense

Born in Vereeniging, Henri moved to Durban
at an early age and started out as a talented
swimmer, also taking part in lifesaving, crosscountry and duathlon for fun. “My parents
wanted me to have a good sense in water, being
by the sea, and growing up in an environment
where your family is sporty, it’s quite easy to
keep going.” That saw Henri take the natural
step up to triathlon while still in school, and
success soon followed as he won the under-19
title at the SA Triathlon Champs for two
consecutive years, but it wasn’t all smooth
sailing...
“The transition from swimming to running and
cycling was slow,” he explains. “I picked up bad
injuries in my shins. As a swimmer, you have
‘soft’ bones, so it’s a process to adapt. Then in
2011 I broke my collarbone after a fall, but it
was definitely a blessing in disguise – because
I came back stronger!” The enforced lay-off
allowed Henri to concentrate on strengthening
his legs as he worked his way back to full fitness,
notably with pool-running, and it paid off. “There
were times when I thought about giving up,
but then the improvements came,” he says,
“and with a good start in my first year on the
international circuit in 2013, I learnt so much,
could travel by myself and handle the pressure
of it all.”

Success upon Success

That year, he picked up wins in the ITU African
Cup, ITU African Championships, 5150 African
Champs, South African Champs (in the elite
under-23 category), ITU East London Premium
Africa Cup as well as the KZN Provincial Champs.
He also placed 14th overall in the ITU World
Triathlon Series, and finished the year with
a world ranking of 10th position. Then came

the success of 2014, which saw Henri add
to his reputation as one of the world’s best
up-and-coming young guns, and he says his
achievements thus far in the sport are thanks to
the hard work he has put in.
“I guess it’s down to discipline, to training three
times a day, putting in two to three hard runs,
one hard bike and two hard swims each week.
I have one rest day a week, but I take an easy
swim anyway! I have this inbred drive to perform
and I like that triathlon is demanding,” says
Henri. “I believe that the Olympics will be a
reality, and I have to thank my family and friends
for their support in getting me to that point.
Also, as far as the sport goes, I think our two
medals in Glasgow have opened people’s eyes.
There is still hard work to be done, but that
keeps me motivated!”

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