Henri Schoeman was born on 3 October 1991 in Vereeniging. He is the brother of the South African swimmer, Riaan Schoeman.
“I was born in Vereeniging and when we moved down to Durban my parents wanted my brother, Riaan and I, to start swimming lessons. My dad, Joe, was also runner and he competed in a number of half-marathons and duathlons. He was obviously a big influence on us growing up. After a few lessons, my coach, Alisdair Hatfield, who saw potential in me, told my parents that I could excel in the sport.
Henri finishing his first Midmar Mile.
Schoeman was a strong swimmer at school and soon progressed to be a strong talent at long-distance swimming for his country. He switched sports to take up the triathlon in his mid-teens and won the Under 19 South African championship.
He represented his country at the 2016 ITU Grand Final in Cozumel, where he won the gold medal. The win came in the final 500m, as Schoeman bypassed Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), who struggling in the heat, and Alistair Brownlee (GBR), who had stopped to help will his brother over the line.
In the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he won a silver medal in the mixed relay - with Gillian Sanders, Kate Roberts and Richard Murray. All four athletes on a team must complete a super-sprint triathlon - 300m swim, approx 6.6km bike and 1km run - before tagging off to a teammate.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he won a bronze medal, which was South Africa's first, and so far only, Olympic medal in the sport.
His bronze at Rio in 2016 is the first Olympic medal South Africa has won in the sport.
In 2021, he competed in the men's triathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.
“I really enjoyed swimming and my results became an indicator to me that I could do this. In primary school, I was the Victor Ludorum at nearly every swimming gala and in high school I was the best endurance swimmer in the country in my age group. After a while though, my performances in the pool waned and I decided to make the choice of swapping to triathlons. Having a swimming background, I made the transition, which was slow at first, but I really found my niche,” he explained.
In the quarter century that Henri Schoeman’s been alive, there’s never been a time when he wasn’t involved in some sort of sport. Growing up with a father who excelled in running, cycling and duathlon, Henri and his brother Riaan would often join him at the track.
Later they would do surf lifesaving and become champion swimmers. In high school Henri became the best long distance swimmer in his age group in South Africa; but it was at the age of 17 that Henri decided to shift focus and transition into triathlon. In the triathlon, Henri would go on to win the national u/19 Triathlon Championships for two consecutive years, win the African Championship 4 times, win the world cup and come home with a silver in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the UK.
To say Henri Schoeman was born to be an Olympian would be an understatement.
“I’ve dreamt of going to the Olympics since I can remember.”
Dreaming and doing are vastly different and getting to the Olympics has meant a tough training schedule and early nights.
“I wake up at 04:55, go to swimming, and finish around 07:00, I would then have breakfast and start my bike session. This is followed by a nap and lunch. At around 15:00 I start getting ready for either a hard or easy run. Afterwards, I will have an ice bath for recovery and then I have dinner. I try to get to bed between 21:00 and 22:00.”
Lenie de Nijs at the Orient Baths pool in East London for the 1958 South African Swimming Championships, where she won 5 titles.
In 1957 the de Robben Swimming Club from Holland, coached by Jan Stender, toured South Africa. Lenie was one of the swimmers in that team.
In July-August 1955 she broke three freestyle world records over 1500 m, 880 yd and 1760 yd distances. She then changed to backstroke, winning three national titles over 100 m (1956–1958) and setting world records in the 200 m backstroke (1957) and 4×100 m medley relay events (1956 and 1958).
Lenie remained in South Africa after the tour finished. She resided in Boksburg and swam for Eastern Transvaal ASA at the 1958 national swimming championships. The Eastern Transvaal, which was established in that year, won the Ellis Brown Aggregate Trophy for the first and only time that year. Commonwealth medallist Natalie Myburgh, the national champion in 100 and 200m freestyle, and Ian Human, the 100 backstroke champion, were also in that team.
Gold Medal winner at the 1930 Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada
At the 1930 Empire Games, she finished first in the 3m diving, ahead of Doris Ogilvie and Mollie Bailey from Canada. There was no 1m event, and she did not compete in the 10m tower diving competition.
Oonagh Eleanor Allison Whitsitt was born in Durban on 1st May 1910 and became a Natal diver, whose father was the Chief Constable of the province. She later married Edward Shaw, who was to become Mayor of Durban and had a daughter Clodagh. She was a member of the Cygnus Amateur Swimming Club.
She was one of three divers who represented Natal at the 1926 South African swimming and diving championships, where she finished out of the medals. In 1927 she finished second behind Marjorie Harris. This result was repeated in 1928, and in 1929 she won the title for the first time.
In 1929 she was also a member of the Natal women's relay team, partnering with Olympic medallist Kathleen Russel and Muriel Ensore-Smth, to win the South African championship event.
At the 1930 SA Championships in Bloemfontein Oonagh Whitsitt again beat Mrs. Doods Bulley into second place with a 'wonderful running swallow dive'.
In 1934 she competed at the Commonwealth Games in London.
On August 7th, 1934 Oonagh Whitsitt finished 5th in the springboard diving at the Commonwealth Games held in London.
The Oonagh Whitsitt Cup to the winner of the women's 1m diving champion at the South African diving championships.
In the Durban suburb of Stamford Hill, there is a municipal swimming pool named in her honour, located in Sutton Park.
Since 1959 the Oonagh Whitsitt Trophy commemorates her achievements the annual South African Diving Championships, presented to the winner in the women's 1m event.
William "Billy" Steuart was born on 28 August 1936 in Johannesburg. He married local girl Gail Schleicher, and later moved to Davis, California, where he died in April 2022.
Billy won the 440-yard freestyle at the 1954 South African Championships in Port Elizabeth, and in 1955 in Pretoria he won the 220, 440 and 1650-yard events, placing second in the 100-yard freestyle. The next year at the SA Championships in Durban he made a clean sweep - winning all of the freestyle events. He moved to the USA in 1957 to study and swim at the University of Michigan.
In the NCAA Championships, he achieved a remarkable double by winning and defending both the 440 and 1500m yard freestyle events in 19658 and 1959. In 1961 the University of Michigan awarded Billy the Chester Brewer Leadership Award (Presented to a graduating senior in his or her last year of eligibility for distinguished performance in athletics and scholarship and for possessing a high degree of leadership qualities and skill.)
He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics, where his best result was 8th place in the 4x200 freestyle relay.
He finished third in the 4 x 220 yards freestyle relay (with Dennis Ford, Graham Johnston, and Peter Duncan), fourth in the 1650 yards freestyle and sixth in the 440 yards freestyle at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
Billy competed in Masters swimming, holding numerous US records and winning All-American awards.
Wendy Trott was born on the 14th of February 1990 in Sandton. She attended Springfield Convent school in Cape Town where she swam with coach Karoly von Törös at the VInyard SC. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, she won a silver medal in the 800m freestyle.
She won a scholarship to the University of Georgia in 2009 and won the NCAA title in the 1,650 freestyle three times. At the SEC Championships, Trott became the first woman in league history to win the 1,650 freestyle championship four times. In her senior year, she was chosen as the 2012 H. Boyd McWhorter Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Southeastern Conference on Friday. In 2023 she worked at ALT Advisory in Johannesburg and is completing an LLB law degree through UNISA.
At the 2008 Olympic Games Wendy finished 9th in the 800m freestyle, and 12th in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
(L-R) Medalists Melissa Gorman of Australia (Bronze), Rebecca Adlington of England (Gold) and Wendy Trott of South Africa (Silver) pose during the medal ceremony for the Women's 800m Freestyle Final at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Wendy Trott Wins 800 Free at South African Championships
Durban, April 12 2007.
THE 400 freestyle title already in her pocket, Wendy Trott added the 800 free championship Thursday at the South African National Championships. Trott was far from overwhelming, as she was well off her time from the World Championships, but her outing of 8:50.17 delivered an eight-second win over Kathryn Meaklim (8:58.23). Trott went 8:31.53 at the World Champs. "I have been tapering for almost six weeks now so it was going to be difficult to get close to my record again," Trott said. "Melbourne was fantastic and it was amazing to swim next to Laure Manaudou of France in the final of the 800 freestyle at the World Championships. I was so happy to be in the final of this event in Melbourne as it is my favorite."
North Carolina’s Stephanie Peacock Edges Triple Champ Wendy Trott for 1650 Free Win; Breaks Oldest NCAA Record in Books 17 March, 2012 AUBURN, Alabama, March 17. IN what had the entire crowd on its feet cheering on a record-setting performance, North Carolina's Stephanie Peacock shot down the oldest NCAA record in the books 22 years to the day from when Janet Evans first set it in the 1650 free. Peacock clipped three-time defending champion Wendy Trott of Georgia, 15:38.79 to 15:38.94, to take down Evans' legendary time of 15:39.14 set back in 1990 in Austin, also on March 17. Peacock jumped up to third-fastest all time behind only Katie Hoff (15:24.35) and Kate Ziegler (15:29.15) with the win to give North Carolina only its 11th team title of all time. Trott, meanwhile, had been looking to become the 12th person ever to sweep an event during their career. She broke her lifetime best of 15:40.32 that claimed the title last year, and also moved her past Evans into fourth all time in the event's history.
TROTT NAMED RECIPIENT OF TODAY'S TOP 10 AWARD FROM NCAA
Nov. 1, 2012 ATHENS, Ga. ---
Former Georgia swimmer Wendy Trott has been selected as a recipient of the Today's Top 10 Award, according to an announcement Thursday by the NCAA. The award recognizes student-athletes who completed their eligibility during the 2011-12 academic year for their success in academics, athletics and in the community. Trott and the other nine recipients, including former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, will be recognized at the Honors Celebration Jan. 18, 2013, during the NCAA Convention in Grapevine, Texas.
Trott, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, was a three-time NCAA and a four-time SEC champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle for the Lady Bulldogs. She was the first woman in conference history to win the 1,650 freestyle four times. Trott also claimed an SEC title in the 500 freestyle. She has represented South Africa in several international competitions, including the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Trott was a two-time Capital One Academic All-American and a four-time member of the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team.
She earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and won the Elite 89 Award as the swimmer at the NCAAs with the highest grade point average. Trott was named the H. Boyd McWhorter Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for all sports by the SEC and received a second postgraduate scholarship from the conference. She won UGA's Joel Eaves and Marilyn Vincent awards as the senior with the highest grade point average and she received a Ramsey Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Excellence. Trott also was named to the SEC Community Service Team.
She served as a team captain her senior season and was a member of UGA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "I've never met a more well-rounded person than Wendy," Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. "She does everything the way it should be done. She worked equally hard at her studies and her swimming, and she did both with a smile on her face. Her level of commitment to whatever she undertook was amazing. Wendy was an absolute treasure to coach and be around these last four years. She was an outstanding ambassador for our program. We're excited about Wendy receiving this honor, and there's no question that she deserves it."
NCAA Women’s Division I Championships: Georgia’s Wendy Trott Claims 1650 Free Title
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, March 21 2009
GEORGIA's Wendy Trott had some work to do after North Carolina's Whitney Sprague threw down a 15:46.57 during earlier heats. The Bulldog did just enough to answer the bell to win the women's 1650-yard free.
Trott clocked a 15:45.49, which is the 12th-fastest time ever in the event and gave Georgia its third title in the mile at NCAAs. Previous winners were Erika Hansen in 1989 and Julie Varozza in 1999. Every decade seems to be a good bet that a Georgia Bulldog will win the mile. However, with Trott's ability, it might not be more than just next year.
Princeton's Alicia Aemisegger clocked a third-place time of 15:50.60 to complete the podium.
In a barn-burner for the team race, Georgia pushed out to the lead with 329.5 points, while California sat second with 302 points. Arizona remained in striking distance with 282.5 points for third. Stanford (213.5) and Auburn (210) completed the top five.
In this year Georgia South African's Troy Prinsloo and Wendy Trott won the men's and women's 1650 NCAA titles, while Neil Versveld won the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships by swimming the fastest time in the history of the event (1:51.40).
NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Georgia’s Wendy Trott Defends Title in Mile
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, March 20, 2010
GEORGIA started off the evening right with a victory in the 1650 free. Wendy Trott defended her title with a 15:48.87 for the win, after winning with a 15:45.49 last year. She joined just eight women to have won the event multiple times, and gave Georgia its fourth triumph in the mile. Previously, Erika Hansen won in 1989 and Julie Varozza claimed the title in 1999.
"It's great, I'm very happy," Trott said. "It's a very close competition right now so I'm just glad I could get those points for Georgia. It was tough and fun but I'm glad it's over."
Princeton's Alicia Aemisegger finished second overall in 15:57.02, while California's Lauren Boyle placed third in 15:59.57 out of an earlier heat. Southern California's Haley Anderson (15:59.99) and Michigan's Emily Brunemann (16:00.93), the 2008 winner, finished fourth and fifth.
Georgia jumped into the lead with 282.5 points, while California stood second with 272 points. Arizona (266.5), Stanford (266.5) and Florida (248) all remained in the fight for the title.
Where Are They Now? – Wendy Trott
29 Sept 2015
Former swimmer, Wendy Trott, shares her experiences since she graduated from UGA in 2012.
Hometown:
Cape Town, South Africa
Major at UGA:
A.B. in International Affairs with a minor in French
Graduate degree:
Masters in International Development, Concentrations in Africa and Emerging Economies from SciencesPo (Paris, France)
University highlights, achievements and awards:
—NCAA Top 10 Award —UGA L.E.A.D. and S.A.A.C member —NCAA and Southeastern Conference Post-Graduate Scholarships, Recipient —2012 SEC Boyd McWhorter Female Student-Athlete of the Year —2012 UGA Clifford Lewis Leadership Award —2012 Elite 89 —2012 UGA Marilyn Vincent Award —NCAA Champion in the 1650-yard freestyle (2009, 2010, 2011) —2012 Joel Evans Scholar Athlete (highest GPA) —Graduated Summa Cum Laude —South African Olympic Team Member,2012
What are you currently doing?
I just started a new job with the Jameel Poverty Action Lab, an academic research network headquartered at MIT. My regional office works out of the University of Cape Town and I am based in Johannesburg where I’m working on a Randomized Control Trial evaluating the impact of low-cost information tools in overcoming market frictions for unemployed young people in Johannesburg.
I am incredibly happy to be doing what I do because I feel like I am working on one of the most significant issues in South Africa (and the rest of the world) today: youth unemployment. I particularly love it because it is a concrete, practical job. I get to work with an National Governing Organization and unemployed young people on the ground, but I also get to be on the forefront of cutting-edge academic research and see how what I do every day fits in with the larger economic literature, so that I feel like I could really make a difference. Everything we do is about building up the evidence base and getting it out to policy-makers so that I don’t feel like the work I do is too abstract.
What about being a student-athlete prepared you for the workforce?
Being a student-athlete at UGA was instrumental in helping me cultivate a fantastic work-ethic. I think that employers were really able to recognize that motivation and ability to work hard when I was interviewing, and it is an incredibly tough job market out there right now so this is hugely valuable. The other thing being a student-athlete gave me was time-management skills, which are a massive asset in the working world. Even when I was in graduate school I felt like I was better able to manage my time and responsibilities than my peers because I’d been forced to do it my whole life. While others were stressing and staying up late the night before papers were due, I had managed to get them done ahead of time and then go for a run.
In a job the same thing goes. Being organized, planning ahead and anticipating then managing delays are fundamental to project management, and every job involves large amounts of project management.
What did you do well or what could you have done differently during your time as a student-athlete at UGA?
The most important thing I wish I had done when I was a student-athlete is making connections with my professors and getting to know them. Recommendation letters are absolutely vitally important, and no professor will remember you if you don’t make a significant effort to go talk to them (even then they may not). It can also be hugely helpful in finding out about job opportunities and connecting to others in your field. Finally, it’s a good way to find out more about what job options there are in your field and which way you want to take your career. I highly recommend asking your professor how they got into what they do, what options they faced when they were your age, what made them choose the route they did, and if they have anyone who chose a different route that they can put you in contact with.
The other thing I wish I had done a better job of was learning the technical requirements of my field as soon as possible (in my case statistics and statistical packages). These hard skills look amazing on your resume, and a wide variety will be helpful. The best suggestion I can give is go onto Coursera, or Edx or any other free online course website and sign up for things you find interesting, that could be Excel, R, Python, photo editing software, anything! As long as you find it interesting, chances are it’ll seem interesting to whoever’s looking at your resume.
What career advice would you give to current or former student-athletes?
My only other advice is to do what makes you passionate. This sounds like a cliché, but it is so true and so rarely followed. The world had plenty of people who do typical things, and it’s very rare that anyone becomes successful at something they only do because they think they’re supposed. There is however plenty of space for the weird, innovative and niche ideas. Do what you love and you will find a way to be successful at it, and once people see how good you are at it they’ll stop trying to convince you otherwise.
Wendy Trott comes from a swimming family - her parents were both Springbok swimmers. Father Gary Bonney was a breaststroke swimmer from Johannesburg while her mother Susan Dickey swam for Natal, dominating South African women's freestyle events between 1972 and 1975. Gary won bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the 1969 South African Championships, 2nd in the 200 in 1970 behind Rhodesian Rob Hatherley. This earned him a place in the Springbok team to tour Rhodesia later that year.
Susan Dickie swam for Natal. won the 800m freestyle at the 1972 nationals in Port Elizabeth, taking silver in the 400 and bronze in the 200m freestyle events, and bronze in the 100m butterfly. In 1973 she won the 200, 400 and 800m freestyle as well as the 200m butterfly, coming second in the 100 fly. That year she also won the Susan Roberts Trophy as the outstanding swimmer of the tournament. In 1974 at Bloemfontein, she won the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle, 440 IM. Esmé Oosthuizen beat her in the butterfly events, and into second place in the 100m freestyle. At Ellis Park, Johannesburg in 1975 she was beaten in the 800, winning the 200 and 400 freestyle and 200 fly. She was also awarded the Susan Roberts Trophy again.
