DURBAN North resident, Henri Schoeman, won South Africa’s first Commonwealth Games gold in the Men’s Triathlon on Thursday. Schoeman also upstaged the race favourites, the Brownlees (Alistair and Johnny who finished 10th and seventh respectively) as the English brothers were left trailing.
Schoeman broke away on the run leg to beat Australian Jacob Birtwhistle, while Scotland’s Marc Austin claimed bronze.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medallist finished in a time of 52min 31sec, seven seconds ahead of Birtwhistle.
South Africa has their first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games!
Henri Schoeman has won the men's triathlon with a time of 52:31 in a brilliant performance at the Gold Coast. #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/5BJ4TthSU8
— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) April 5, 2018
Read also: 7 things you didn’t know about Henri Schoeman
Great start for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games, with Henri Schoeman winning gold in the triathlon this morning. He'll be back for the mixed relay tomorrow #GC2018
— Wesley Botton (@wesbotton) April 5, 2018
This was Schoeman’s first triumph since his victory at the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi last month.
The former Oakridge College learner managed to come out on top and become only the second man in WTS history to win the race after leading in all three disciplines from start to finish.
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