The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of former Olympian and high jump world champion Jacques Freitag have shocked the athletic community. On Wednesday, the South African police confirmed that his body had been found in a field near a cemetery in Pretoria, and a murder case had been opened following his disappearance last month.
Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, had taken to social media to seek assistance in locating him. She had revealed that he had been struggling with drug addiction after his athletic career ended. The police were able to confirm his identity despite the body not yet being formally identified by family members.
Hendrick Mokganyetsi, the Athletics South Africa commission chairperson, paid tribute to Freitag, highlighting his achievements in high jump. He was a four-time South African champion and had set a national record by clearing 2.38 meters in 2005. He also won gold at the world junior championships in 2000 and secured the gold medal at the 2003 world championships in Paris with a jump of 2.35 meters, becoming the first South African to achieve such a feat in high jump.
Freitag had made history by winning world titles at youth, junior, and senior levels, cementing his legacy as a talented high jumper. Investigations into the case continue as no arrests have been made yet, but the authorities are actively pursuing leads.