| Intro | South African female high jumper |
| A.K.A. | Desire du Plessis, Desiré Du Plessis |
| Is |
Athlete High jumper |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | female |
| Birth |
20 May 1965 |
| Age | 55 years |
| Star sign | Taurus |
Desiré du Plessis (born 20 May 1965) is a South African former track and field athlete who competed in the high jump. Her personal best is 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in), putting her in the all-time top thirty for the event. It was a South African record until it was beaten by Hestrie Cloete. Her best mark indoors was 1.95 m (6 ft 4 ⁄4 in), set in 1987. She ranked second in the world in the 1986 season.
Du Plessis won two major medals in her career, both at the African Championships in Athletics, taking bronze in 1992 and 1993. Compatriot Charmaine Weavers and Ivorian Lucienne N’Da were ahead of her each time. She also represented South Africa at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, taking ninth with a jump of 1.80 m (5 ft 10 ⁄4 in).
She won five straight national titles at the South African Athletics Championships between 1983 and 1987, becoming the first woman to clear two metres there in the process. She won two further titles in 1993 and 1995.
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | African Championships | Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius | 3rd | 1.86 m |
| 1993 | African Championships | Durban, South Africa | 3rd | 1.80 m |
| 1994 | Commonwealth Games | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | 9th | 1.80 m |
National titles
- South African Athletics Championships
- High jump: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1995