Kurt Bendlin (; born 22 May 1943) is a retired

West German West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...

decathlete. In 1967 he became the first German person to set a world decathlon record in 34 years; he was voted German Sportsman of the Year, received the

Silbernes Lorbeerblatt Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf), the highest sports award in Germany, was endowed on 23 June 1950 by the German President Theodor Heuss. It is awarded to athletes and teams of exemplary character that have won medals at Olympic and ...

, and was cast in bronze by Arno Breker. Next year he won a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics. Bendlin won national decathlon titles in 1965, 1967, 1971, and 1974. Besides sport, he worked as policeman and teacher of physical education. He also organized outdoor camps and training courses for managers, and in 1986 published a related book ''Fitness für Manager''.

References

1943 births West German decathletes Olympic bronze medalists for West Germany Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics Olympic athletes for West Germany Living people Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) West German Athletics Championships winners {{Germany-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub