Congratulations to Henri Schoeman, who has won the IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu title in Cebu, crossing the line in 4:08:52 to reclaim the crown he first took in 2024.
The Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist led from the swim through to the finish on Mactan Island on Sunday, holding off a fast-finishing Sebastian Fuchs over the closing kilometres of the run.
Henri Schoeman clocked 4:08:52 across the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run course, two years after winning here in 4:02:31. He sat out the 2025 edition entirely, which makes this his second win in two starts at the race rather than in two seasons.
The plan was set from the water. Schoeman was first out of a choppy swim, then went to work on the bike as the heat built across Mactan.
Henri Schoeman:
“I tried to push as hard as I could in the swim, I created a gap on the bike and then I just wanted to hold my pace, hold the gap to the guys behind as best I could which I did and then on the run I just wanted to make sure that I got to the finish line because I know it gets really hot on the run and I wanted to make sure I didn’t overdo it.”
“Two years of chasing form and Schoeman still comes back to Cebu and makes the rest of the field chase shadows – that’s the mark of a champion who refuses to be written off!” – 🎙️Jay
It came at a cost. A bike mishap the day before racing was followed by that rough swim and a blustery ride, and by the closing stretch of the half marathon his body was going.
Henri Schoeman:
“I’m feeling pretty tired, my legs are like rocks now, I was cramping up towards the end of the run. You know I’m really happy that I came back, I won the race and despite everything that happened during the week once again I’m the champion here so I can’t complain about anything.”
The chase behind him was tight. Fuchs took second for Austria, with New Zealand’s Ben Hamilton completing the podium.
- 🥇 Henri Schoeman (RSA) – 4:08:52
- 🥈 Sebastian Fuchs (AUT) – 4:12:51
- 🥉 Ben Hamilton (NZL) – 4:14:34
The men’s professional field this year was one of the strongest assembled for the race, and Schoeman had little margin for error against it. He didn’t need it. Fuchs and Hamilton never got close enough to force a decision, and the South African triathlete held his shape through the heat to close it out.
The 34-year-old has spent two seasons chasing a return to the level that made him one of triathlon’s most recognisable names.
Henri Schoeman:
“It means so much, I’ve had a really tough two years, struggling to find my form so this win is going to give me confidence, and it shows that I’m a really good athlete and there’s more to come.”
Over 1,400 athletes from 48 countries took part on Mactan Island, with Australia’s Natalie Van Coevorden taking the women’s professional title. Two wins in Cebu, separated by a year away and a long search for form, put Schoeman firmly back among the frontrunners heading into the rest of the season.
📸 Images via IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu Lapu
