CAPE TOWN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- South African police on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of the body of former world champion high jumper Jacques Freitag, who was reported missing last month.
Freitag, 42, had been missing for two weeks before his body was tragically found with multiple gunshot wounds, according to local news reports.
Police confirmed to Xinhua that a case of a missing person was reported to police by Freitag's sister on June 24 after "she realized that her brother was missing when she visited his home in Witbank on the 16th of June 2024."
"Mr. Freitag told the family when he left home that he was coming to Pretoria and also gave them the address of the guest house where he would be staying," according to police.
His body was reportedly found in the grass near a cemetery Monday afternoon in Pretoria West, South Africa.
Police also confirmed that a missing person's case has been changed to a case of murder.
"The discovery was made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue Team which has been conducting a search for the missing person," said police. "The family of the deceased has identified the body. No one has been arrested yet but the police are following up on leads."
Freitag was one of the few athletes to have won world championships at youth, junior, and senior levels. He took gold in the high jump at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.
