Balian Buschbaum

Balian Buschbaum, born 14 July 1980, is a former German pole vaulter who competed in women's events before his gender transition. He won the German Youth Champion title several times, became German pole vault champion in 1999 and that year set a German record of 4.42 metres, improving on his earlier junior world record of 4.37 metres. His personal best is 4.70 metres, achieved in Ulm in June 2003. On 21 November 2007 he announced his retirement from the sport because of a persistent injury and his wish to begin gender reassignment, and in January 2008 he announced his new first name, Balian. He worked as a high jump coach in Mainz until the end of the 2012 to 2013 indoor season and has published books, including the 2010 memoir Blaue Augen bleiben blau.