The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver

Hestrie Cloete (1978 - ) Awarded for:

Exceptional performance in the field of Athletics

Profile of Hestrie Cloete

Hestrie Cloete was born in 1978 in Germiston. Cloete is South Africa’s second track and field World Champion since the country’s readmission to the World Championship in 1993.

Cloete’s outstanding performance on the field has seen her repeatedly set records. She set three South African, thirteen African, and five Commonwealth records for high jump between 1998 and 2003. Her achievements include being the World Top Junior in 1997, African Champion in 1998 and 2002 and world number one in 1999.

With the exception of the Olympic Games of 2000 where she won silver, Cloete has won all the major titles including the African Games in 1995 and 1999, the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, the IAAF Grand Prix winner in 1999 and 2001, the Goodwill Games in 2001, the World Cup in 2002 and the World Championships in 2001 and 2003.

She is currently the South African, African and Commonwealth record holder and is ranked 1st by the International Amateur Athletics Federation’s (IAAF). Cloete is also ranked joint 4th record-holder on the World All Time list with the phenomenal jump height of 2.05m.

This year she became the first woman high jumper ever to successfully defend her World
Championship title, was voted 2003 World Best Performance or Performer, as well as being crowned World’s Best Athlete.