Former world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi dies in car crash aged 34
Last Updated: 24/10/14 8:44pm
Former 800 metres world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi has died in a car accident at the age of 34.
The South African runner was killed while on his way to an athletics meeting in Johannesburg, a statement from the office of the country's President Jacob Zuma said.
Mulaudzi carried the South Africa flag at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where he took the silver medal, and he was a Commonwealth Games champion over the distance in Manchester in 2002.
But his biggest achievement came in 2009 when he came home as world champion in Berlin, something of a surprise winner after having failed to make it past the semi-finals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
He eventually retired from athletics in 2013 and was regarded as one of his country's greatest sportsmen, eliciting a heartfelt tribute from President Zuma.
"The nation has lost a true hero and one of our most disciplined and talented athletes who flew the South African flag across the sporting world," said Zuma.
"We wish to convey, on behalf of the Government and the entire nation, our heartfelt condolences to his family, ASA (Athletics South Africa), the South African sports fraternity and the International Olympic Committee."
There were also tributes from 2012 Olympics women's 800m silver medallist Caster Semenya and 2008 Olympics long jump silver medallist Khotso Mokoena.
"Just lost a brother, a friend, a very good friend," Semenya said on Twitter. "May your soul rest in peace. I love you man, will always love you CHAMP."
And Mokoena said: "I have lost a brother, a friend, a champion. Sad news to my soul. Will miss you my brother. RIP. Death be not proud."
