The world of athletics is mourning the loss of South Africa’s Jacques Freitag, who passed away at the age of 42. Freitag was a talented athlete who achieved success at various levels of competition, winning individual world titles at the U18, U20, and senior levels.
Freitag was born in 1982 in Warrenton and was raised in Gauteng in a family where athletics played a significant role. His mother, Hendrina, was a national high jump champion and likely inspired him to pursue a career in the sport. Freitag’s breakthrough came when he won gold at the 1999 World U18 Championships in Bydgoszcz shortly after turning 17. He continued to excel in the high jump, setting records and winning competitions throughout the early 2000s.
In 2003, Freitag made history by becoming the first African man to win a world title in a field event when he claimed gold at the World Championships in Paris. Despite some setbacks in his career and personal life, Freitag persevered and competed until 2013. His African record of 2.38m set in 2005 still stands today, showcasing his enduring talent and legacy in the sport of high jump.
Sadly, Freitag had been missing for two weeks before his body was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds, leading authorities to investigate his death as a murder. The athletics community is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and will remember Freitag as an exceptional athlete who inspired many to pursue their dreams.
Freitag’s untimely death has left many questions unanswered about what led to his downfall, but one thing is clear – he will always be remembered as one of South Africa’s greatest athletes who achieved great success both nationally and internationally.
