Carlo Petersen3 July 2024 | 12:28

Athletics South Africa pays tribute to late high jump champion Jacques Freitag

Police said that a search-and-rescue team found the 42-year-old shot dead in a field near Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria on Monday afternoon.

Athletics South Africa pays tribute to late high jump champion Jacques Freitag

Jacques Freitag carries his national flag on a victory lap after winning the men's high jump final 25 August 2003 at the 9th IAAF World Athletics Championships. Photo: AFP PHOTO/FRANCK FIFE

CAPE TOWN - Athletics South Africa (ASA) has paid a warm tribute to former world, African and South African high jump champion, Jacques Freitag.

Police said that a search-and-rescue team found the 42-year-old shot dead in a field near Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria on Monday afternoon.

According to reports, Freitag was last seen on 17 June at his mother's house in Bronkhorstspruit.

 ASA commission chairperson, Hendrick Mokganyetsi, said that Freitag's murder had shattered the hearts of the entire athletics family.

Mokganyetsi said that he had the honour of travelling with the lanky athlete throughout Freitag's athletics journey.

"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."  

Mokganyetsi said that he also witnessed Freitag secure a gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, adding that his greatest feat came 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."