Frits Potgieter Explained

Frits Potgieter
Nationality:South African
Birth Date:13 March 1974
Birth Place:Pretoria, South Africa
Weight:118kg (260lb)

Frederick "Frits" Potgieter (born 13 March 1974, in Pretoria[1]) is a retired South African athlete who competed mostly in the discus throw. He won the silver medal at the 1992 World Junior Championships, as well as several senior medals at regional level. He represented his country at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as well as two World Championships without reaching the final.

Potgieter played for Waterkloof High School and Northern Transvaal's Craven for three years. He then participated at various sporting events, including the Universiade and African Games winning medals in discus throwing discipline. A four-time gold medalist, he was placed in fourth place on the South African all-time list.[2]

Following 2000 Summer Olympics, Potgieter joined Pretoria Rugby Club, after South African athletics initialized a new policy which states that bans athletes 26 and older to participate in international events.[2]

His personal best in the event was 64.16 metres.[2]

His brother, Karel Potgieter, is a former shot putter.[2]

Competition record

Representing
1992World Junior ChampionshipsSeoul, South Korea16th (q)Shot put16.15 m
bgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw56.28 m
1994Commonwealth GamesVictoria, Canada5thDiscus throw56.10 m
1995World ChampionshipsGothenburg, Sweden39th (q)Discus throw54.84 m
UniversiadeFukuoka, Japanbgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw61.38 m
All-Africa GamesHarare, Zimbabwe3rdDiscus throw58.54 m
1997World ChampionshipsAthens, Greece15th (q)Discus throw61.30 m
UniversiadeCatania, Italy16th (q)Discus throw53.20 m
1998African ChampionshipsDakar, Senegalbgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw60.50 m
Commonwealth GamesKuala Lumpur, Malaysia6thDiscus throw59.01 m
1999UniversiadePalma de Mallorca, Spain5thDiscus throw61.10 m
All-Africa GamesJohannesburg, South Africabgcolor=silver2ndDiscus throw60.59 m
2000African ChampionshipsAlgiers, Algeriabgcolor=gold1stDiscus throw60.35 m
Olympic GamesSydney, Australia18th (q)Discus throw61.56 m

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418031200/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/frits-potgieter-1.html Sports-Reference profile
  2. News: Draconian policies push Frits out. Gert le Roux. News24. 2001-05-31. 2019-10-10.