From where he was in 2021 with a broken ankle, South African triathlete Henri Schoeman was happy to finish in 20th place during yesterday’s triathlon final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Alongside the 24-year-old Jamie Riddle, he led for parts of the swimming and cycling legs of the competition, but some strong cyclists and runners in their field saw the South Africans fall behind to see them missing out on podium places.
In dramatic fashion, Britain’s Alex Yee (1hr:43min:33sec) hauled in New Zealander Hayden Wilde (1:43.39), who was 17 seconds clear of him at a late stage of the run and with the finish line almost in sight, to claim the gold medal.
Frenchman Leo Bergere, who came in at 1:43.43, picked up the bronze ahead of his fellow countryman.
Schoeman (1:45.53) set the tone during the 1 500m swim in the River Seine and was leading for most of the leg, coming up against a strong current and with Aussie Matthew Hauser right on his heels.
#Paris2024 #Olympics #Triathlon pic.twitter.com/ASiqbIwl44
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 31, 2024
But it was Italian Alessio Crociani who just pipped Schoeman in the Seine.
“I was very happy with my swim and positioned myself how I wanted to,” Schoeman said after completing the event.
“I was within the top three the entire time, and tried to push up front to make it as hard as possible for the guys behind me.
“On the bike (40km), it was all about conserving as much energy as I could.
✅ Swim: complete
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 31, 2024
🚴♂️ Cycle: on going
🏃♂️ Run: Not completed
🇿🇦 Henri Schoeman and Jamie Riddle are in the top 10 in the Men’s Individual Triathlon.
📺 Stream live: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw #Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/tvF6zsZTiJ
“On the run (10km), I thought I could push for the medal, but I was lacking some of that speed and found myself drifting a little bit back, and couldn’t push any harder.
“Coming from where I was in Tokyo with a broken ankle, I am happy to finish.
“It was warm (the conditions), and with the race change, we didn’t expect it. It was a factor, and I think I over-exerted myself a little bit, but I gave (it) my best shot.”
Schoeman said the uncertainty of whether the race would go ahead yesterday did play on his mind when he went to bed the night before.
The athletes did not know if it was going to be a triathlon or a duathlon until yesterday because of the levels of pollution in the Seine.
Riddle (1:47.15) also said the sudden change to the schedule made the conditions very different.
Riddle, who looked strong on the cycle leg, finished in 25th place at his first Olympic Games.
ALEX YEE 🇬🇧 IS THE 2024 OLYMPIC TRIATHLON CHAMPION
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 31, 2024
The Brit delivers one of the greatest comebacks we have ever seen to take the @Paris2024 tape 🔥 pic.twitter.com/I2iMbGztBA
“After the swim, when I came up the stairs my legs started cramping already, so I knew it was going to be a long day. This is a game of small margins, and if you are off by one percent, it shows,” he said.
“But I had one goal today (yesterday) and that was to enjoy it. That is what Paris is about. It’s been a 12-year dream, and to call myself an Olympian is everything.
“In four years in Los Angeles, I will be 28 and in my prime, and that is the big one. This was by far the best day of my life.”
Fellow South African Vicky van der Merwe finished 46th in the women’s triathlon in 1:59.54, and said she almost drowned during the swim.
She said the triathletes weren’t used to the conditions.
“This was a first experience (like this) for a lot of athletes. I prepared for any changes. South Africans are really good at adapting to a little bit of uncertainty and having to make changes. I have prepared, but in hindsight, a duathlon would’ve suited me better,” she laughingly added.
“It was a tough day for me, but I am just proud I kept fighting until the end. It’s not the result I hoped or I trained for, but I achieved a goal.”