Henri Schoeman

For the judoka, see Henri Schoeman (judoka).

Henri Schoeman

Personal information
Nationality	South African
Born	(1991-10-03) 3 October 1991 (age 33) Vereeniging, South Africa[1]
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Weight	57 kg (126 lb)[1]
Spouse	Franzel Schoeman
Sport
Country	South Africa
Sport	Triathlon
Coached by	Joe Schoeman Alisdair Hatfield[1]
Medal record Men's triathlon Representing  South Africa Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Triathlon Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast Triathlon 2014 Glasgow Mixed relay 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series ITU Grand Final Triathlon African Triathlon Championships 2021 Charm el-Cheikh Triathlon 2016 Buffalo City Triathlon 2015 Charm el-Cheikh Triathlon 2014 Troutbeck Triathlon 2013 Agadir Triathlon Arena Games Triathlon Series 2023 eSports World Champion Triathlon

Henri Schoeman (born 3 October 1991)^[2] is a South African triathlete. He represented his country at the 2016 ITU Grand Final in Cozumel, where he won the gold medal; the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal; and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he won a silver medal in the mixed relay. He is the brother of the South African swimmer, Riaan Schoeman.^[3] His bronze at Rio in 2016 is the first Olympic medal South Africa has won in the sport.^[4] In 2021, he competed in the men's triathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.^[5]

Career

Schoeman was a strong swimmer at school and soon progressed to be a strong talent at long-distance swimming for his country. He switched sports to take up the triathlon in his mid-teens and won the Under 19 South African championship in consecutive years.^[6] However, he sustained stress fractures in his shins in 2009^[7] which kept him from competing for two years. A mountain bike accident in 2011 then ruled him out of competition but allowed him time to recuperate and build strength in his legs, allowing him to return to competition stronger.^[6]

Schoeman won the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final September 18, 2016,^[8] placing him 4th overall for the series.^[9] Schoeman was due to finish 3rd, but Alistair Brownlee slowed to help his brother Jonny over the line. During this assist, Schoeman passed the Brownlee brothers and won gold. In the run-up to the Rio games, Schoeman had developed a suspected respiratory illness, stating after the race: "I have had fever the whole week. The doctor only gave me the all-clear to be on the start line yesterday".^[10][11]

References

1. "Profile". Self. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
2. "Henri Schoeman". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
3. "Rio 2016 : Schoeman claims triathlon bronze". ZwemZa. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
4. "Henri Schoeman wins Bronze medal in Men's Triathlon". eNews Channel Africa. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
5. "Men's Triathlon Results" (PDF). Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
6. "Henri Schoeman". ASICS. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
7. "Henri Schoeman". ITU. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
8. Union, International Triathlon. "Results: Elite Men | 2016 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Cozumel | Triathlon.org". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
9. Union, International Triathlon. "Elite Men | ITU World Triathlon Series Rankings 2018 | Triathlon.org". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
10. Williamson, Norrie (18 August 2016). "Rio 2016 - Schoeman wins triathlon bronze". JacarandaFM. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
11. Etheridge, Mark (18 August 2016). "Brilliant Bronze for South African Henri Schoeman at Olympics in Rio". SAPeople.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.