Triathlete Henri Schoeman made history when he became the first South African to win an Olympic medal in Triathlon. Schoeman clinched the bronze at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, and also won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the mixed relay and a Gold medal in the ITU Grand Final in Conzumel in 2016. He has competed at the highest level in triathlon since his Olympic success, and has now begun his preparation for Tokyo with an intensive training programme that he hopes will help him win a medal at the greatest show on earth.

One of the strongest and most consistent swimmers in triathlon today, Schoeman first made an impact in 2013 when he started competing in the Elite Men’s field. He made his debut in San Diego and then worked on his weaknesses to move up the field and finish 6th at WTS Yokohama, followed by a 4th place in Kitzbuhel where the young South African athlete caused a stir with his shock result on one of the world’s toughest courses. The following year he became African Champion and picked up gold at the Tongyeong World Cup and silver in the Mixed Relay event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In 2015 he finished in the top-10 at seven WTS events, and was in similar form when he clinched his Olympic bronze in Rio in 2016.

Since the Rio Olympics Schoeman has competed at the top of triathlon, and his consistent results in 2019 and a silver at WTS Yokoham saw him complete the season ranked in seventh-place overall.