Josef FEISTMANTL

Josef Feistmantl had a long career in international luge, winning five medals at the World Championships from 1959-71. In 1964 he and Manfred Stengl became the first Olympic champions in doubles luge. Feistmantl’s World Championship medals were all in singles, with a gold in 1969, silvers in 1959 and 1970, and bronzes in 1967 and 1971. He won three medals at the European Championships, all in doubles, with a gold in 1967 and silvers in 1954 and 1962. Feistmantl won nine Austrian championships, five in singles in 1962-63, 1966-67, and 1970, and four in doubles in 1961 and 1963-65.

In 1976 Feistmantl was chosen to light one of the two Olympic Flames, along with Christl Haas, at the Innsbruck Opening Ceremony. In 1996 he was awarded a Gold Medal for Service to the Austrian Republic. Feistmantl’s career was as an optician.