Underdone, but Murray to fight

SA STAR FANCIED ALONG WITH SCHOEMAN Among the women, Carlyn Fischer looks the one to watch.

Having spent some time away from the sport in the off-season, Richard Murray believes he is ready to compete again, despite not being quite 100% fit.

With French athlete Vincent Luis withdrawing ahead of the event, Murray was set to line up with fellow South African Henri Schoeman as the favourites for the season-opening Discovery Triathlon World Cup race in the Mother City today.

“I’ve had an interesting buildup,” Murray said yesterday.

“Four weeks ago I was still skiing in Germany, and then my girlfriend (Dutch athlete Rachel Klamer) invited me to join their national team at a camp in Namibia, so I was able to do three weeks of altitude training.

“So I’m probably around 70 to 80% fit, but it’s still early in the season and I’m assuming everyone else is in the same position. I’m reasonably pleased with my current shape.”

While Murray was edged out by bronze medallist Schoeman at last year’s Rio Olympics, settling for fourth place and missing out on the podium, he admitted there was no intense rivalry between the two athletes, who had different strengths and weaknesses in the three triathlon disciplines.

With South Africa likely to have an athlete in contention at most major races on the international circuit this year regardless of race tactics, as Schoeman was able to push hard on the swim leg and Murray was able to dominate the run, he felt the duo could play a key role in promoting the sport back home.

“He’s a competitor, and I do see him as that, but we’re both representing the country and I’m glad he’s doing well. It’s good for the sport,” Murray said.

Former African Games champion Carlyn Fischer was expected to carry the SA flag in the elite women’s contest at today’s event, a sprint race consisting of a 750m swim, 20km cycle ride and 5km run.