The Tragic Death of Olympic High Jumper Jacques Freitag: A Legacy Lost to Violence

The discovery of the body of former Olympian and high jump world champion Jacques Freitag has led to a murder case being opened by the South African police. Freitag had been missing since mid-June, with initial reports suggesting that he had been shot. The body was found in a field near a cemetery in Pretoria, although formal identification by family members was still pending.

Following the discovery, SA Police Service Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the body had been identified as Freitag’s by his family. A missing person’s case in Hercules was officially changed to a case of murder, but no arrests had been made as of yet. The police were actively pursuing leads as the investigation continued.

Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, had utilized social media to seek help in locating him after he went missing in the early hours of June 17. She disclosed that Freitag had struggled with drug addiction following the conclusion of his athletics career. Hendrick Mokganyetsi, chairperson of Athletics South Africa commission, remembered Freitag’s achievements and contributions to high jump in the country.

Mokganyetsi recalled Freitag’s national record clearance of 2.38 meters and his gold medal win at the world championships in 2003. Freitag was also acknowledged for being a four-time SA champion in high jump and for his historic victory at the world championships in Paris. He was praised for being the first South African to secure a gold medal in high jump at the world championships. Freitag’s legacy included winning world titles at youth, junior, and senior levels, placing him among a distinguished group of athletes.