Rio 2016 - Schoeman wins triathlon bronze

 Henri Schoeman earned South Africa eighth Medal at Rio Olympics when finishing third to Great Britain’s Brownlee brothers Alistair and Jonathan who took the gold and silver respectively.

 

It was a race that was nearly never run. “I have had fever the whole week. The doctor only gave me the all-clear to be on the start line yesterday,” said Schoeman, who had a full battery of x-rays only two days previously. 

“To be on the start line I was really and to be in my first Olympic was a dream come true already. “

 

Schoeman came out of the swim in seventh and a chaotic transition that left him just off the back as the mounted for the eight-lap 40km cycle. 

The KZN man fought hard to close the deficit and was back with the lead group by the time they were in their rhythm,

“ Once I made that top group I was determined to get my best position top 5 and once I started running I gave it my all I was running for my life.”

 

Throughout the cycle Schoeman was content to simply keep a place within the ten-man group using minimum effort

 

“I’ve been working really hard on my run and knew what the break away were capable of. The heat and hard cycle were going to be a bit of a factor, I knew there would be casualties,” continued the 24 year old younger brother of 2008 and 2012 swimming Olympian Riaan Scheoman..

 “I tried to keep my cool in the beginning (of the run), and it paid off in the end.”

 

Entering the run leg in sixth, Schoeman, who had the fastest cycle of the day, used the first 2.5km lap to move up into 4^th, accounting for Frenchman Vincent Luis after 500m of the second lap.

“The first two laps went well, but the last two were hard. I was literally sprinting for my life over that last lap,” said Schoeman as he tried to close down the ‘Brotherhood’ and was also being pursued by South African Richard Murray.

 

On the third lap Alistair pushed ahead opening a gap of 100 metres, which he took to the finish in 1:45:01 with brother Jonathan securing silver in 1:45:07 and Schoeman the Bronze 1:45:43.

 

“ I’ve just been coming short of a podium every time I just very glad I have broken through and had my first international triathlon medal at the Olympics. It’s just unbelievable – There are no words – Its just unbelievable,” continued an overjoyed Schoeman, who was thinking of his family back home while racing.

 “I was imagining the family back home and knew they would be screaming at the TV and their power just driving me on.”