Despite never winning a national title at the French Athletics Championships, he was the gold medallist at the 1966 European Athletics Championships in Budapest.[4][5] He defeated compatriot Robert Sainte-Rose – the leading French athlete of the era – by count-back, as both cleared 2.12 m (6 ft 11+1⁄4 in). This made Madubost the first Frenchman to win a field event at the championship, and he remains the sole French male athlete to win the European title in men's high jump (Anne-Marie Colchen won the women's event 20 years earlier).[4][6] For his achievement he was given the 1966 medal of the Académie des sports (one of two from athletics, alongside sprinter Roger Bambuck).[7]
The 1966 season proved to be a peak of his career, as he also twice improved the French national record with clearances of 2.14 m (7 ft 1⁄4 in) and 2.15 m (7 ft 1⁄2 in).[8] He represented France at the 1968 European Athletics Indoor Championships, but did not match his previous success and ended the competition in 18th place.[9]
A policeman by occupation, after his retirement from athletics he represented France internationally in sport shooting.
