Ex decathlon world record holder Kurt Bendlin dies

Former decathlon world record holder and Olympic bronze medallist Kurt Bendlin of Germany has died at age 81, his wife confirmed to dpa on Saturday, reported dpa.

Martina Bendlin said that he died on Thursday in the city of Paderborn.

West German Bendlin claimed the world record in the multi-event in 1967 with 8,319 points and then defied an injury-plagued season the following year to claim Olympic bronze in Mexico City.

"It was unbelievable what I got out of myself in the Olympic decathlon hell. This was the biggest achievement for me," Bendlin later said, rating the medal higher than the record.

Germany's 1967 Sportsman of the Year lost the world record in 1969 to Olympic champion Bill Toomey of the United States. He ended an injury-plagued career in 1976.