Okkert Brits

Okkert Brits ( born August 22, 1973 in Uitenhage ) is a South African former pole vaulter who was among the world leaders in the mid- 1990s.

Since the beginning of his career, he dominated on the African continent, was four times African champions (1992, 1993, 1998, 2006) and won twice at the Pan-African Games (1995 and 1999). His record of 6.03 meters, achieved on 18 August 1995 in Cologne, is the continental record.

In 1995 he was at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona with 5.75m and third in the World Championships in Gothenburg fourth with 5.80 m, in the following year he failed, however, at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in qualifying. Four years later, at the Games in Sydney, he came to seventh place.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, he won gold. In January 2003 Brits tested positive for ephedrine doping agent. Because it was his Erstverstoß with stimulants, he was booked and not disabled. At the World Championships in August of the same year he won silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, he did not progress beyond the qualification.

Okkert Brits had a competition weight of 84 kg at a height of 1.98 m. He has been married since 2003 and has two children.