Commonwealth Games 2018: Henri

South Africa’s Henri Schoeman poses with his bronze medal after the men’s triathlon at Fort Copacabana during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Leon NEAL

Commonwealth Games 2018: Henri Schoeman wins gold for #TeamSA

It’s gold!

Commonwealth Games 2018: Henri

South Africa’s Henri Schoeman poses with his bronze medal after the men’s triathlon at Fort Copacabana during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Leon NEAL

Henri Schoeman won South Africa’s first medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, bagging gold in the triathlon on Thursday morning in a time of 52:31

Schoeman, the bronze medal winner at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, took gold in the triathlon to open Team SA’s medal account in Day 1’s early action.

Schoeman’s compatriots Richard Murray finished sixth, while Wian Sullwald ended 20th.

The women’s race was won by Bermuda’s Flora Duffy.

The gold added to his Olympic bronze and it was a very good effort, where Schoeman even got to slack off on the blue carpet to savour the victory, seven seconds ahead of of fast-finishing local favourite Jake Birtwhistle.

Richard Murray, bronze medallist at the Glasgow Games four years ago, had to settle for sixth, 33sec back after giving his all in the chasing group on the bike.

Wian Sullwald, former world youth champion, said he was still suffering from illness and ended 20th, +3:39 back.