Desiré du Plessis

{{short description|South African high jumper}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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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 {{T&Fcalc|2.01}}, putting her in the all-time top thirty for the event. It was a South African record until it was beaten by Hestrie Cloete.[http://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/jumps/high-jump/outdoor/women/senior Senior Outdoor High Jump women]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. Her best mark indoors was {{T&Fcalc|1.95}}, set in 1987.[http://www.all-athletics.com/node/142634 Desire Du Plessis]. All-Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. She ranked second in the world in the 1986 season.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/tp/worw.htm World Top Performers 1980-2005: Women (Outdoor)]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.

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.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/afc.htm African Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. She also represented South Africa at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, taking ninth with a jump of {{T&Fcalc|1.80}}.[http://www.thecgf.com/search/athlete.asp?participants=&athleteid=41266&page=&exp=1 Desire Du Plessis]. Commonwealth Game Federation. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.

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.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/rsa.htm South African Championships]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.