Jacques Freitag, born on June 11, 1982, in Warrenton, Cape Province, is a renowned South African high jumper. He is one of only ten athletes, including famous names like Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva, to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior levels.
Early Life and Education
Freitag grew up in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, about 50 km east of Pretoria. His mother, Hendrina Pieters, was a South African high jump champion in 1973, with a personal best of 1.74 meters. Jacques attended Hoërskool Erasmus in Bronkhorstspruit and later Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in Pretoria.
Career Highlights
- Personal Best: 2.38 meters (achieved in Oudtshoorn, 2005)
- World Championships: Gold in High Jump, 2003 (Paris)
- World Junior Championships: Gold in High Jump, 2000 (Santiago)
- World Youth Championships: Gold in High Jump, 1999 (Bydgoszcz)
- University of Pretoria Sportsman of the Year: 2003
Freitag was coached by Martin Marx and Jonathan Greyvensteyn and was a member of the Rentmeester-Tuks AC club in Pretoria.
Legacy
Jacques Freitag remains a significant figure in athletics, especially noted for his achievements in high jumping. He ranks among the top athletes globally and is celebrated in South Africa for his contributions to the sport.
Among athletes, Freitag is ranked 4,674 out of 6,025, and he is the 26th most popular South African athlete. His biography is available in 18 different languages on Wikipedia, reflecting his global recognition.
Current Concerns
As of June 17, Freitag has been missing. He was last seen in Booysens, Pretoria West, after being picked up by a man who promised him a job. His family, deeply worried, urges anyone with information to come forward.
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