The men's decathlon at the 1971 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki saw East Germany's Joachim Kirst successfully defend his European title with a championship record of 8196 points. Sweden's Lennart Hedmark claimed silver with a national
The European Championships historical archive showcases all-time decathlon records, champions and medal table, highlighting the continent’s greatest performances and leading nations throughout history.
Kurt Bendlin, a gifted German decathlete, overcame multiple injuries and personal tragedy to set a world record in 1967, and despite repeated setbacks, made several comebacks throughout his career.