Josy Stoffel

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameJoseph "Josy"•Stoffel
Used nameJosy•Stoffel
Born27 June 1928 in Differdange, Luxembourg (LUX)
Died9 March 2021 in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (LUX)
Measurements167 cm / 67 kg
AffiliationsL'Espérance Gymnastics Society, Differdange (LUX)
NOC Luxembourg

Biography

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. He competed at four World and six European Championships. Stoffel 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 (1965-72). 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.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) LUX Josy Stoffel
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 64
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Luxembourg 11
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =47
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =50
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) =84
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) 76
Rings, Men (Olympic) =40
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) 68
1952 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) LUX Josy Stoffel
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 32
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Luxembourg 18
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =59
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =31
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 26
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =40
Rings, Men (Olympic) =26
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =40
1956 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) LUX Josy Stoffel
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 30
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =29
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =23
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 46
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =29
Rings, Men (Olympic) 37
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =12
1960 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) LUX Josy Stoffel
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) =18
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Luxembourg 17
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) =46 r1/2
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =20 r1/2
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) =26 r1/2
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =17 r1/2
Rings, Men (Olympic) =39 r1/2
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =18 r1/2
1964 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) LUX Josy Stoffel
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 104
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) 126 r1/2
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =54 r1/2
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) =28 r1/2
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =63 r1/2
Rings, Men (Olympic) =65 r1/2
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =45 r1/2

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1964 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony LUX Josy Stoffel

Olympic family relations