Henri aiming for a triathlon medal at the Games
HENRI Schoeman’s dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer like his older brother ended when he stopped growing at about 17 years old, 1.70m tall.
So he tried his hand at triathlon and won the national age-group title on his maiden attempt; now he is bearing down on the world’s top 10.
Schoeman’s qualification for the Rio Games means his family will compete at a third consecutive Olympics.
Brother Riaan took part in the 400m individual medley, though he never made it past the heats at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Henri believes he, like SA’s top triathlete Richard Murray, will be a medal contender over the 1.5km swim, 43km cycle and 10km run course at Fort Copacabana on August 18.
Like Murray, he has a plate in his collarbone after smashing it in an accident while cycling. “I can say I’ve got more screws,” he added with a smile.
Unlike Murray, Schoeman bases himself in South Africa, and he’s a strong swimmer, invariably being one of the top five out of the water every race.
His cycling is good enough to keep up with the lead group, but it is in the running where he has made his biggest strides.
In the last World Series event at Yokohama in Japan earlier this month, Schoeman broke 30 minutes for the run for the first time.
“There were only eight guys who ran sub-30. To win these races you’ve got to be the best runner,” said Schoeman, who has frequently been run down by the likes of Murray in the final leg.
Schoeman, 24, qualified 12th on the Olympic triathlon rankings. Murray was third.
A silver medallist in the team event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Schoeman said his days as a nipper lifesaver benefited his swimming, especially in tougher conditions.
“I have some good skills in choppy water, I can read currents.
“When you’re in the water you’re very sensitive to feel and you can feel what’s happening around you and you can judge how you’re moving in the water,” said Schoeman, who as a pool swimmer used to do the 400m individual medley as well as the 200m butterfly and 1 500m freestyle.
“[If] you can read the waves . . . you can get through the waves a lot easier.”
Dad Joe, a former runner and duathlete, coaches Schoeman in running and cycling, while veteran mentor Alisdair Hatfield does the swimming.
Mom Michelle is not sporty. “She’s the only normal person in the family,” joked Schoeman.
There were only eight guys who ran sub-30. To win you’ve got to be the best runner