Unraveling the Tragic Disappearance of Former High Jump World Champion Jacques Freitag: A Call for Greater Awareness on Mental Health in Sports

A murder case has been opened after the body of former high jump world champion Jacques Freitag was found in a field near a cemetery in Pretoria, South Africa. The South African police confirmed that the body had been identified as Freitag’s by his family, leading to a missing person’s case being officially changed to a case of murder.

Freitag had been missing since mid-June, and initial reports suggested that he had been shot. However, no arrests have been made as of yet as the police continue to actively pursue leads in the investigation.

Freitag’s sister, Chrissie Lewis, utilized social media to seek help in locating him after he went missing. She revealed 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. He 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.

The discovery of Freitag’s body has led to a renewed focus on addressing mental health issues among athletes who may struggle with addiction following their careers. The sports community is mourning his loss and paying tribute to his remarkable achievements on and off the track.