AFTER the heartache of the Tokyo Olympics, where he failed to cross the finish line due to injury, triathlete Henri Schoeman showed true heart and determination and finished 20th at this year’s Paris Games.

The Durban North resident appearing in his third Olympic Games was one of three South African triathletes (two in the men’s race and one in the women’s race) in Paris. Schoeman, a bronze medallist at the Rio Olympic Games who remains South Africa’s first and only triathlon Olympic medal winner, gave it his all.

“I never thought I would feel this amount of relief, joy and gratefulness over a 20th position in a race. Constantly referring to injuries, trials and tribulations gets old real quick, but looking back at what I’ve had to go through and overcome to get to this start line is almost overwhelming. Exactly three years ago, I was sitting on my couch with a broken ankle, next to my wife who had just miscarried for the third time.

“Fast forward to today, we endured the impossible, many times coming close to giving up, but we are here, healthy at an Olympic Games, a top 20 placement and a baby boy due in just over a week. I am so humbled by my support system, and I am so proud of what we got through, together,” he said.

Fellow Team SA teammate Jamie Riddle finished in 25th position in the men’s event, while Vicky van der Merwe finished 46th in the women’s triathlon event.

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