Okkert Brits (born 22 August 1973, inUitenhage) is a former South Africantrack and field athlete who specialised in thepole vault. He was the silver medallist at theWorld Championships in Athletics in 2003. He was a four-time champion at theAfrican Championships in Athletics and twice champion at theAll-Africa Games. He was a gold medallist at the2002 Commonwealth Games and took bronze at the1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sathletics | ||
Representing South Africa | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2003 Paris | Pole vault |
| World Indoor Championships | ||
 | 1995 Barcelona | Pole vault |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
 | 2002 Manchester | Pole vault |
| All-Africa Games | ||
| 1995 Harare | Pole vault |
| 1999 Johannesburg | Pole vault |
| African Championships | ||
| 1992 Belle-Vue | Pole vault |
| 1993 Durban | Pole vault |
| 1998 Dakar | Pole vault |
| 2006 Bambous | Pole vault |
His personal best of 6.03 m, set in 1995, is theAfrican record. This made him the first African in the6 metres club of vaulters. He competed in the1996,2000 and2004 Olympic Games finishing seventh in 2000. He ranked number one in the world for the 1995 season.
He has been married to Jane Gillespie since 2003; they are the parents of Sarah Jane Brits (born in 2005) and David Okkert Brits (born in 2006). In 2009, Brits took part in the 3rd season of Survivor: South Africa, placing eighth.
In January 2003, Brits tested positive for a banned substanceephedrine, which he claimed must have been in the energy supplement he took. For its being his first offence and ephedrine only being a stimulant, he was only given a public warning.[1][2]
Competition record
editSurvivor South Africa: Santa Carolina
editIn 2010, Brits competed on the third season ofSurvivor South Africa,Survivor South Africa: Santa Carolina. He made the merge, and ultimately was voted out in 8th place. He cast his jury vote for Perle "GiGi" van Schalkwyk, who ultimately won the competition.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Okkert: Innocent or just ignorant?".Independent Online. South Africa. 15 February 2003. Retrieved28 August 2012.
- ^"The bitter taste of victory".Independent Online. South Africa. 26 June 2012. Retrieved28 August 2012.
External links
edit- Okkert Brits atWorld Athletics
- Okkert Brits atOlympics.com
- Okkert Brits atOlympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's Pole Vault Best Year Performance 1995 | Succeeded by |