Lyuben Doychev

Bulgarian all-round track and field athlete Lyuben Doychev was the country’s first international star with his success in the pole vault. Doychev won bronze and silver at the Balkan Athletics Championships in 1930 and 1932, respectively, before winning back-to-back titles in 1933 and 1934. In 1936 he won another bronze in the pole vault, with him then winning silver in both the pole vault and the 110 metres hurdles at the 1937 championships. He was also an eight-time national champion, with titles in the pole vault (1929–30, 1932–33, 1938), shot put (1930), discus (1930), and 110 metres hurdles (1938).

Doychev competed in the pole vault at the 1934 European Athletics Championships in Torino, Italy, where he tied for tenth with Adolf Meier, who both had a best clearance of 3.70 metres. The following day at the championships was the start of the decathlon, but Doychev had to withdraw just prior to the start of the event after suffering with stomach pains. Two years later he did compete in the decathlon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where he finished 14th. He also had the honour of being the flagbearer for Bulgaria at the Opening Ceremony.

Personal Best: Dec – 6042 (1934).