Grief for Kurt Bendlin: A decathlon icon goes from us
Grief for Kurt Bendlin: A decathlon icon goes from us
The world of athletics has lost one of its big ones: Kurt Bendlin, former decathlon world recordler and Olympic medalist, died at the age of 81. This was confirmed by his wife of the German Press Agency. Bendlin, who died in Paderborn last Thursday, leaves his two children, a daughter and a son.
Kurt Bendlin was more than just one athlete; He was a personality that significantly shaped the world of decathlon in the 1960s. He became famous for his world record in the decathlon, which he set up under the brooding heat in the Heidelberg University Stadium. In May 1967, he set standards with impressive 8,319 points that were supposed to sustainably last. It was a key moment in his career, who delighted the audience and celebrated him as the "king of the athletes".
sporting successes and injuries
But the way to fame was not exactly: Bendlin started a year after his world record at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. This event was linked to high expectations because it was considered a favorite. However, it quickly turned out that his Olympic journey would be anything but easy. An injury during the preparation prevented him from optimally preparing for the competition. For six weeks he hardly had time to train, and yet he managed to jump on the podium on the second day of the competition despite strong cramps and win the bronze medal. In retrospect, he considered this performance as one of his greatest, not least because he was able to show so much strength in the middle of physical agony.
During his active time, Bendlin was forced to face numerous health challenges. He had to endure a total of 14 operations, which were often due to the great loads of his body. "My problem was that my strength was larger than the durability of my bones and joints," he said once. So he continued despite painful setbacks and did everything possible to realize his dream of sporting excellence.
Paderborn and social projects
Outside of sport, Bendlin also worked as a graduate sports teacher and gave fitness courses for stressed managers in his homeland Malente. His traumatic childhood, shaped by war and loss, influenced him and gave him the motivation to help others. His mother fled to Schleswig-Holstein with him early on after his father died in captivity. In his later life, Bendlin wanted to help other people, especially alcohol and drug addicts to offer them new perspectives.In addition, he was involved in father-child courses on a farm in Paderborn, where he won many hearts with his friendly way and understanding nature. His wife Martina lovingly remembered her husband, who accompanied her for years. "My husband could never choose between decathlon, job and wedding," she remarked humorously. But despite the challenges, Bendlin was always the lovable person who all appreciated.
Kurt Bendlin lived according to philosophy: "For me, only the moment is important. I live in the here and now." This attitude accompanied him until his 75th birthday, where he emphasized this way of life. His commitment to society and its unshakable positive attitude left a lasting impression on all those who knew him.
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