IN a growing list of accolades that include an Olympic bronze medal in 2016 and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018, Durban North’s Henri Schoeman can now include being crowned Esports World Triathlon Champion.
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Representing the Bahrain Victorious 13 team, Schoeman won his first and the team’s first world championship win of the year.
Last month, the 31-year-old claimed the world title after climbing to the top of the overall rankings at the Super League Triathlon Arena Games series following three events in three different cities, Montreal, London and Sursee.
In the first event of the year in the series, in Montreal, Schoeman placed second, then a week later in Sursee, Switzerland, he claimed first and then followed that up with a second place finish at the Grand Final in London.
The Esports format sees athletes take on a 200m swim in a pool, followed by a 4km bike ride on a stationary bike, linked to the Zwift virtual platform and a 1km run done on treadmills linked to the Zwift virtual platform.
“I’ve missed out on the international triathlon circuit for the last two years, and I wanted to get back into racing early on in the season. I figured you need racing to keep race fit, and I used these events to sharpen up my body. It was my first time trying it out, and after the first event in Montreal, I just fell in love with the sport and the concept. I came into the series not expecting much, but I wanted to get the benefit of the high level of competition. Being crowned world champ has really built my confidence.
“Leading up to the Grand Final in London, I knew there was every opportunity to win overall, but it was never going to be easy. This style of racing is extremely competitive and very difficult. The format sees athletes compete in a series of heats before the finals at every arena event. The format also allows us to be close to the spectators who are able to watch us on a big screen and watch in real time how the lead changes. The swim and run on the treadmill are fairly straightforward, but the cycle is where things get interesting – we cycle on a virtual course, and while the back is stationary, you feel every downhill, uphill and cobbled section. It gives you the real effect as if you are riding in the real world,” he said.
Schoeman added that he would love to return to the series next year.
While Schoeman has shown he can excel in Esports, his attention has now turned to the ITU circuit where he hopes to get fitter, stronger and notch up more wins.
His itinerary for the rest of the year includes triathlons in Yokohama, Japan; Cagliari, Italy; Montreal, Canada; Sunderland, UK; Hamburg, Germany, and Ponte Vedra, Spain.
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