Triathlon
Photo Credit: Zareena Gaibee

Team SA started what they finished in the Olympic Triathlon. Vicky, Henri, and Jamie chat with Good Things Guy Olympics correspondent Zareena Gaibee after their events.

 

Paris, France (01 August 2024) – The Olympic triathlon, which took place yesterday, included a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle, and a 10km run. South Africa had three athletes in the mix: Vicky van der Merwe, Henri Schoeman, and Jamie Riddle. Despite the difficulties, the athletes demonstrated resilience and pride in their performances. The men’s race was postponed for a day, and no one really knew if either competition was going to proceed and what it would be like when it did. On the day, the women’s medals went to Cassandre Beaugrand from France, Julie Derron from Switzerland, and Beth Potter from Great Britain. On the men’s side, Alex Yee from Great Britain, Hayden Wilde from New Zealand, and Léo Bergère from France took the top spots.

Vicky van der Merwe’s Experience

Vicky van der Merwe, who fulfilled her 20-year dream by competing in the Olympics in 47th, reflected on the tough race. Despite facing challenging conditions and a chaotic swim, she was proud of her perseverance:

“At one stage, I thought I was going to drown around a buoy. I was underwater for quite a long time… I’m really proud for keeping on and fighting till the end.”

This actually resulted in her getting a 15-second penalty, so this sport is rough. Despite the hurdles, she stayed positive: “I wanted to have a really good result, but it didn’t happen… I’m still really proud to have finished. The crowds were incredible… My family being here, especially my little one, makes it super special.” Vicky also noted that she has definitely swum in worse water before. She wouldn’t say where but it was somewhere in Africa.

Vicky, like many of our athletes, has a full-time job and still somehow managed to start and finish a tough race at the Olympics.

Triathlon

Henri Schoeman

Henri Schoeman, an Olympic veteran and former bronze medallist, found the race both exciting and challenging, coming in 20th this time around. He used his surf life-saving skills to deal with the strong currents:

“I had a lot of fun on the swim. I was exactly where I wanted to be… That current was strong, so I tried to push right to the side… The crowds were incredible, it was crazy, the support.”

Henri faced some setbacks during the run but kept a positive attitude: “I gave my best shot… I think I just lacked a little bit of race speed… I had a 15-second penalty… I just took in the atmosphere and was super excited to cross the finish line.” His penalty came from his gel falling off his bike. Looking ahead, Henri expressed a desire to try new challenges: “I want to try some new challenges… Maybe I will be ready for another round, but I want to try some new challenges.”

Henri also praised Jamie, saying, “Jamie is a fantastic athlete. It’s great to see that we have another male up and coming. I think he’s right up there. He’s following a similar path to me with a good swim, and he’ll be up there on the bike. If he gets his run going, he can be right up there in the next competition.”

Jamie Riddle

Jamie Riddle, who finished 25th, called it the best day of his life, even though he didn’t hit his target:

“It’s a 12-year dream that’s come to fruition… I refused to go out there and not enjoy it… That was by far probably the best day of my life.” Jamie highlighted how tough the water currents were: “My word, that was crazy. I swallowed gallons… The current and the opponents were far more dangerous… I know I’m a strong swimmer… but it was still like I was getting battered and bruised left, right, and centre.” Reflecting on his goals, Jamie said: “I wanted a top 10… But I’m incredibly happy with 25th as well. I want to give back to our community and our underprivileged South Africans.”

Jamie also pointed out the lack of South African triathletes of colour, saying it’s not cool. He acknowledged his own privilege but emphasized that South Africans and Africans are talented people, and it’s important to ensure they have opportunities.

Jamie’s dad, Alec Riddle, deserves a shout-out too. Known in his competitive days as “The Riddler,” his contributions to sport and talent development, especially through initiatives like Max Africa, have been significant. Alec’s dedication to nurturing talent and his successful career serve as an inspiration to many but especially Jamie who got understandably emotional just thinking about it.

Watching the Olympics Online

For those in South Africa looking to watch the Olympics, SABC Plus provided an option, although they didn’t cover everything. With a cellphone number, password, and data, you could stay connected to the games. They sometimes showed different events than scheduled, like swimming instead of the triathlon, but it still allowed viewers to catch some Olympic action.

Ultimately, the race did not unfold as planned for Team SA. The support from the crowd, family presence, and the achievement of finishing amidst the world’s best athletes are to be celebrated. Personally, they all seemed perfectly content despite none of them executing exactly what they would have wanted. The streets and apparently surfs of Paris were challenging and joyful.

Personally, the race was thrilling. I had to cross it twice to get through to the Venue Media Centre somewhere in the maze that is the Grand Palais which was surprisingly easy. The Mixed Zone, where athletes and press meet post-event, was a zoo, so Team SA kindly brought the athletes to us. The athletes were all smiles, and why not? They just did a big thing. Henri’s parting words were that he was sorry he couldn’t give us a medal but, Henri you already have. It is just lovely to see that the competitive spirit never dies.


Zareena Gaibee will be on the ground in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics events, sharing her take on the prestigious sporting event, giving exclusive insights into life at the games, and hopefully meeting many of the South Africans in Paris who are competing and supporting. She will be reporting her findings for Good Things Guy, giving readers a glimpse of what flying the flag in Paris is all about.

You can follow her series via Good Things Guy here.

If you would like to talk about sponsorship of this series, please reach out to us via email here.


Sources: Zareena Gaibee 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *