According to local media reports, South African police have found the body of former High Jump World Champion Jacques Freitag after he disappeared in June 2024.
The 42-year-old, who won the 2003 big showdown in Paris and competed at the 2004 Olympics, was shot dead according to the reports.
The body was found in a field near a cemetery in the city of Pretoria, according to the police.
Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, had pursued for help via social media with finding Freitag, who disappeared in the predawn long stretches of June 17 after leaving home. Lewis said he had battled with illicit drug use after his athletics profession ended.
Sports South Africa commission director Hendrick Mokganyetsi, who said he had frequently made a trip with Freitag to an international event, said:
“On the fifth of March 2005, I remember he cleared 2.38 metres – that was a national record. He was a four-time SA champ in high jump. In 2000, he won gold at the world junior champs that were held in Santiago, Chile.
“In 2003, he won the gold medal at the world champs in Paris with a jump of 2.35 metres. This victory made him the first South African to win a gold in high jump at the world champs.”
Freitag was among a select group of athletes to win world titles at youth, junior and senior level.
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