Muriel Davis-Grossfeld

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameMuriel Evelyn•Davis-Grossfeld
Used nameMuriel•Davis-Grossfeld
Born7 October 1940 in Speedway, Indiana (USA)
Died17 January 2021 in Milford, Connecticut (USA)
Measurements160 cm / 50 kg
AffiliationsSouthern Connecticut Gym Club
NOC United States

Biography

Muriel Davis-Grossfeld was one of the early stars of American women’s gymnastics, competing at three Olympics, 1956-64, as Miss Davis in 1956 and Mrs. Grossfeld in 1960-64. She was the first American female gymnast to compete at three Olympics. She also won a gold medal in the team all-around at the 1963 Pan American Games. Davis-Grossfeld won 18 AAU titles (second only to Clara Schroth’s 38), including the all-around in 1957 and 1963.

She later became a gymnastics coach and judge, coaching the US Olympic team in 1968 and 1972, and coaching the US at the 1967 and 1971 Pan American Games and the World Championships in 1966, 1970, and 1974. She judged at several World Championships and the 2000 Olympics. Davis-Grossfeld also worked as a gymnastics commentator for all three major American television networks. From 1990-96 she aided the President of the FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique) Technical Committee. In one interesting sidelight, she starred in the television movie “El Coyote” in 1957, in which she played the title role. Muriel Davis married American gymnast Abie Grossfeld, who also competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, although they later divorced. Davis-Grossfeld was inducted into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1980.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) USA Muriel Davis
Individual All-Around, Women (Olympic) 52
Team All-Around, Women (Olympic) United States 9
Team Portable Apparatus, Women (Olympic) United States 9
Floor Exercise, Women (Olympic) =25
Horse Vault, Women (Olympic) 58
Uneven Bars, Women (Olympic) 59
Balance Beam, Women (Olympic) 32
1960 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) USA Muriel Grossfeld
Individual All-Around, Women (Olympic) 70
Team All-Around, Women (Olympic) United States 9
Floor Exercise, Women (Olympic) 19 r1/2
Horse Vault, Women (Olympic) =69 r1/2
Uneven Bars, Women (Olympic) =91 r1/2
Balance Beam, Women (Olympic) 66 r1/2
1964 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) USA Muriel Grossfeld
Individual All-Around, Women (Olympic) =58
Team All-Around, Women (Olympic) United States 9
Floor Exercise, Women (Olympic) =16 r1/2
Horse Vault, Women (Olympic) 74 r1/2
Uneven Bars, Women (Olympic) =62 r1/2
Balance Beam, Women (Olympic) 43 r1/2

Olympic family relations

Special Notes