Former South African High Jump Champion Jacques Freitag Reported Missing in Gauteng

Former South African high jump champion, Jacques Freitag, has been reported missing in Gauteng, sparking concern among family and the athletics community.

Chrissie Lewis, Freitag’s sister, made a public plea for assistance in locating him, revealing that he was last seen on his 42nd birthday after visiting their mother, Hendrina, in Bronkhorstspruit.

According to Lewis, Freitag was allegedly dropped off in a bush in Booysens, Pretoria West, and has not been seen since 12 June.

Freitag, a four-time South African high jump champion, made a mark in the athletics world by setting a national record of 2.38 meters in Oudtshoorn.

In 2003, he clinched the gold at the IAAF World Championships in Paris by clearing 2.35 meters at the iconic Stade de France.

The former Olympian represented South Africa at the Athens Olympics in 2004 but fell short of making the high jump final, managing a clearance of only 2.20 meters during the qualifying rounds.

Reports circulating about Freitag since his retirement in 2013 suggest financial struggles, battles with recreational drug addiction, and periods of homelessness in Pretoria.