German decathlon record holder Leo Neugebauer will continue to represent VfB Stuttgart’s track and field athletics department, as confirmed by the two parties during Saturday’s general assembly. The 24-year-old won silver at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but despite becoming the first German decathlete since Frank Busemann in 1996 to win a medal at the Games, he continues to pursue ambitious targets. The announcement of his contract extension was greeted by loud applause from the members attending the assembly.
Leo Neugebauer: “I’m really pleased to remain part of the VfB team. I’d like to say a big thank you to the executive committee, Dieter Göggel and the entire athletics department for their support. We have great plans for the future. I also have a number of highlights coming up this year, such as the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.”
VfB president Dietmar Allgaier: “Leo Neugebauer is a top international athlete and an ideal ambassador for VfB. We’re delighted he’s reaffirmed his commitment to VfB Stuttgart. This is a big statement from our club and for VfB’s image as the face of top-level track and field athletics in southern Germany.”
Neugebauer was born on 19 June 2000 and grew up in the Swabian town of Leinfelden-Echterdingen, where he represented local club LG Leinfelden-Echterdingen before joining VfB’s track and field athletics team in 2023. While continuing to compete at the highest level, Neugebauer recently spent several years studying economics at the University of Texas in Austin, where he performed for the Texas Longhorns’ Track & Field team. He broke the American college record in the decathlon and was awarded the Bowerman Trophy for being the USA’s best college athlete in 2024. Despite completing his studies last summer, Neugebauer continues to make the most of the excellent training conditions in Austin.