The body of former high jump world champion Jacques Freitag was discovered by South African police after he went missing last month. The 42-year-old athlete, who won the world title in 2003 and competed in the 2004 Olympics, was found shot according to local media reports. Freitag’s family has chosen not to comment on the situation.
Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, had reached out for help on social media in an attempt to locate him after he disappeared in the early hours of June 17. Lewis mentioned that her brother had been struggling with drug addiction since his athletic career came to an end. Freitag was a remarkable athlete who achieved success at various levels of competition, winning world titles in youth, junior, and senior categories. His death has shocked the sports community in South Africa and beyond.
The police located Freitag’s body in a field near a cemetery in Pretoria, although it has not yet been formally identified by family members. It is still unclear what led to his tragic end. The circumstances surrounding his death have left many people mourning the loss of a talented high jumper who inspired millions around the world with his incredible achievements on and off the track.
