Joseph STOFFEL

Josy Stoffel got his start in gymnastics after World War II and made his first international appearance at the Olympics in 1948, with a best individual finish of joint-40th in the rings and a placing of 11th out of 16 nations in the team event. He went on to compete at the next four editions of the Games, making him (as of 2016) one of only five gymnasts to have competed in five or more Olympic gymnastics tournaments, as well as the Luxembourgian to have participated in the most editions of the Games. His best finish in the individual all-around was joint-18th (with Jaroslav Šťastný of Czechoslovakia) in 1960, although his best placement in any individual event was joint-12th in the pommeled horse in 1956. Injuries he sustained during his final Olympic appearance forced him to retire after the tournament.

Stoffel’s sole major international medal came in the vault at the 1955 European Championships, where he took home bronze. He was also fifth overall at the 1950 World Championships. Nonetheless, he won sixteen consecutive national championships, from 1949 through 1964, which led him to be twice elected Luxembourg’s Sportsperson of the Year (in 1957 and 1960) and to be selected to carry the country’s flag at the Games in 1964. By career, he worked as a coach for both his club and the national team. In 2008 he became a Chevalier in the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. His wife, Yvonne Stoffel-Wagener, was also an Olympic gymnast in 1960 and worked as a professor of sport.