Frank Busemann

Frank Busemann (German pronunciation: [fʁaŋk ˈbuːzəˌman] ; born 26 February 1975 in Recklinghausen) is a former German decathlete. He currently works as a pundit for athletics coverage by German TV channel Das Erste. Busemann started his career as a 110 m hurdler and was junior world champion in this discipline in 1994. After his surprising decathlon silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics with his personal best of 8706 points he became one of Germany's most popular sportsmen. He also was named German Sportsman of the Year. At the World Championships of the following year Busemann came third. After these successes Busemann confronted severe injuries from which he only recovered partly. He made a comeback at the 2000 Olympics where he finished in seventh place. In 2003, at the age of just 28, he retired because of his deteriorating physical condition. His personal best of 8706 points ranks him fifth among German decathletes, behind Leo Neugebauer, Jürgen Hingsen, Uwe Freimuth and Siegfried Wentz.