South Africa's Henri Schoeman won the Africa Triathlon title in Egypt ©Getty Images

South Africa’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist and reigning Commonwealth champion Henri Schoeman lived up to his position as favourite in winning the Africa Triathlon Championships at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

Schoeman, who finished seventh in last year’s World Triathlon rankings, led home a South African clean sweep as he claimed gold in 1hr 48min 57sec.

Henri Schoeman's victory in the men's race at the Africa Triathlon Championships completed a South African double following Simone Ackermann's win in the previous day's women's race ©Getty Images
Henri Schoeman's victory in the men's race at the Africa Triathlon Championships completed a South African double following Simone Ackermann's win in the previous day's women's race ©Getty Images

He was followed home by Jamie Riddle in 1:49:13 and Nicholas Quenet, who finished fourth at the same venue on Monday (June 7) in the Africa Triathlon Cup and Pan Arab Championships, and clocked 1:54:33 today.

Christiaan Stroebel of South Africa was fourth in 1:56:14, with Morocco’s 2019 African Games champion Badr Siwane fifth in 1:56:18.

Schoeman’s victory completed a South African double at the event following the previous day’s victory in the women’s elite race by 31-year-old Simone Ackermann, an experienced World Championship performer and who placed 19th in 2016.