Kurt Bendlin

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Kurt Bendlin (2018)

Kurt Bendlin (born May 22, 1943 in Maßort , Rippin district , Danzig-West Prussia ) is a former German decathlete who competed for the FRG.

career

In the spring of 1966 his career seemed to have ended after two meniscal operations. Impatiently and secretly, the sports student began to train again (“Only iron gives strength.”) So that he could take part in his tenth decathlon in Heidelberg on May 13th and 14th, 1967. Under ideal conditions and thanks to his equilibrium, there was a German decathlon world record holder again after 34 years (“I just trained more than the others.”). With 8319 points, he exceeded the world record of the American Russ Hodge from 1966 by 89 points. The Heidelberg record was only exceeded in 1969 by the US American Bill Toomey with 8417 points. In Germany, on the other hand, the record was even considered a German record until 1976. The individual performances of the world record were 10.6 s, 7.55 m, 14.50 m, 1.84 m, 47.9 s, 14.8 s, 46.31 m, 4.10 m, 74.85 m and 4: 19.4 min.

The Federal President awarded him the Silver Laurel Leaf for the world record in the decathlon.

Starting for the Federal Republic, he won the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Bendlin scored 8064 points with the individual performances 10.7 s, 7.56 m, 14.74 m, 1.80 m, 48.3 s, 15.0 s, 46.78 m, 4.60 m, 75, 42 m and 5: 09.8 min. Bill Toomey had a point account of 4499 after the first day, in second place was Joachim Kirst with 4384 points, ahead of Hans-Joachim Walde (4290), while Bendlin was in sixth place with 4149 points. On the second day Bendlin started to catch up: he threw the discus 46.78 m and jumped over 4.60 m with the stick, reached 75.42 m with the spear despite his injured limb and Toomey was on the other hand at 62.80 m in the end. The American decided the decathlon with 4: 57.1 minutes in the final 1500 meter run and was Olympic champion with 8193 points. Vor Walde (8111), Bendlin (8064), Nikolai Awilow (7909) and Kirst (7861). After Mexico, Bendlin had an operation on his right limb. But he could not take part in the European Championships in Athens in 1969 because the DLV had withdrawn its participation in the individual competitions because of the "affair" Jürgen May .

He also took part in the European Athletics Championships in 1971 , but had to give up injured before the final 1500-meter run . At the German Championships on 3rd / 4th July 1971 in Bonn Bendlin started in good form and won the championship with a score of 8244 ahead of Hans-Joachim Walde (8122).

In 1965, 1967, 1971 and 1974 he was German champion. From 1975 onwards, Guido Kratschmer dominated , who also set a world record in 1980 with 8649 points.

Until 1970 he started for TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen , where he was trained by Bert Sumser , then for LC Bonn . At the DLV level he was supervised by Friedel Schirmer . In 1967 he was named Sportsman of the Year . From 1979 to 1990 he was head of training and sports promotion at Nixdorf Computer AG . Today he organizes outdoor camps and is the author of the book Fitness for Managers.

literature

  • Wolfgang Wünsche: athletes, duels, records. Südwest-Verlag. Munich 1971. ISBN 3-517-00353-0 , pp. 223-236.
  • Gerd Presler: Why do the strong have to become weak, Mr. Bendlin?, In: FAZ - Magazin October 29, 1993, p. 94f.

Web links

Commons : Kurt Bendlin  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Seen bunnies . In: Der Spiegel . No. 22 , 1967, p. 98 ( online ).
  2. ↑ Sports Chronicle. 5000 years of sports history. Sport-Verlag, Berlin 2000
  3. ↑ Information given to the Bundestag by the Federal Government on September 29, 1973 - Printed matter 7/1040 - Annex 3, pages 54 ff., Here page 67
personal data
SURNAME Bendlin, Kurt
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German athlete and Olympic medalist
DATE OF BIRTH May 22, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH Maßort , Rippin district , Gdansk-West Prussia