Schoeman ready for exciting 2021 season
South African triathlon star and Elite Athlete Development
Programme member Henri Schoeman is keen to get himself back to international
competition as he builds up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo on 26 July.
Making sure that he is in peak physical shape when he gets on the start line in just over three months is vital and the team at the Prime Human Performance Institute is crucial to him staying fit and injury free.
“The EADP and the team at Prime have been looking after me really well for a long time now,” the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist said.
“I’ve had a few achillies issues recently and the team have been great in getting me back to where I need to be and I feel like I am in great shape and have good form going into the season.
“To have our Olympic doctor (Dr Kevin Subban) as our doctor at Prime is fantastic because I have a good relationship with him already.”
It’s going to be a busy period of racing and training for the Bahrain Endurance 13 athlete who heads off to Japan in May before heading to Europe for a handful of races as well as a stint in South-East Asia for training.
“We start the World Triathlon Champion Series in Yokohama in May which is going to be my first international race of the year!
“We’ve had four races either cancelled or postponed this year already which has been tough but it’s exciting that we will be racing again soon.
“I have two races in Europe in Leeds and Hamburg which will provide me with another chance to see how my form is and to get some race fitness in.”
Having taken part in the Tokyo 2020 test event last year Schoeman has an idea of what to expect from the Olympic course and knows how important it’s going to be to be prepared for the heat.
“The biggest thing about the race in Tokyo is the heat,” he explained. “The dew point is so high which makes it very humid and hot so I have to be ready for that.
“The Durban summer has helped in preparing me for this but I will also be spending a few weeks in Thailand as part of my preparation.
“Then when I get home I’ve got a simulation room where I will get the temperature up and just try and maintain my levels because we’ll be in winter just before the Games.”
The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is ready for what Tokyo will dish up.
“The water temperature is also going to be very high but from a course perspective it is technical but not too demanding.
“It’s quite a flat course but I know that the winner on the day is going to be the person who is best prepared across the board for all conditions,” he added.
