Abie Grossfeld
Encyclopedia
Abie Grossfeld is a former American
gymnast
and current American gymnastics coach.
Grossfeld has represented the United States as a gymnastics competitor or coach in seven Olympic Games, seven World Championships, six Maccabiah Games, and five Pan American Games — in addition to many other major gymnastics events.
Championships, (1949–50). He also won the New York City 4 X 50 relay team title at Madison Square Garden in 1949, and the Bronx High School high jump
and standing long jump
titles in 1949. Grossfeld was also Captain of his high school swimming team, and competed mostly in the 50 yd. and 100 yd. freestyle events. In addition, he helped the team as a diver, and also swam and competed unattached in the NYC Boys’ Swimming Championships, winning gold in the 100 and silver in diving in 1949.
He was awarded the “New York Maritime Benevolent Association Medal” in 1951 for saving a human life in peril. When he was 16 years old, he dove into an ice filled river in New York to save a drowning five-year old.
, class of 1960). He received a master’s degree from the school in 1962.
At the NCAAs he won four gold - AA, FX, two HB titles, and three silver and three bronze medals. He finished in the top three in 10 of 16 events, (1957–59). At the Big Ten Championships he won seven gold medals - 3 AA, FX, R, PB, & HB (1957–59). At the national AAU Championships he was four times the horizontal bar champion (1955–61).
Four years later, Grossfeld again competed in the World Championships, when the U.S. team placed 6th and Grossfeld finished 85th in the all-around.
for the United States' men's gymnastics team, Grossfeld first competed at the 1956 Melbourne Games. While the U.S. finished 6th overall in the team competition (271.5 points, only 5 points behind Czechoslovakia for the bronze medal), Grossfeld finished in 39th place in the individual all-around competition (107.75 points). During the Games, he also placed 13th in the horizontal bar, 23rd in the free-standing exercise, 34th in the rings, 48th in the parallel bars, and 52nd in the pommel horse.
Four years later, at the 1960 Summer Olympics
, the U.S. team finished 5th and Grossfeld placed 36th in the all-around.
, won the combined exercises championship.
, competing in 1955, 1959, and 1963. He won 15 medals (eight golds; including three for Horizontal Bar championships), including the gold in the individual all-around in 1959.
in 1953, 1957 (winning 7 golds in 7 events; AA, R, PH, FX, HB, PB, & V), and 1965, winning a combined 17 gold medals.
He was also the head coach of the men's team at the 1986 Goodwill Games
.
In addition, he coached the U.S. gymnasts in three Maccabiah Games: 1973, 1977 (men and women), and 1981. His 1981 squad won three team gold medals.
During this time, he also became a professor of physical education and became head gymnastics coach at Southern Connecticut State University
, helping the program become one of the best in the country.
He coached four Nissen Award winners (akin to football’s Heisman Trophy
), three NCAA Div. II championship teams, 10 Consecutive Eastern Collegiate Conference (EIGL) team championships (1975-’84), and 148 gymnasts who achieved All American status.
Among those he coached were Peter Kormann
, first U.S. Olympic individual gymnastics medalist since 1932; John Crosby, two World Cup individual gold medals; and three Pan American individual gold medal winners (1971 & ’75).
He received the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Master of Sports Award in 1960.
He was chosen NCAA National Coach of the Year three times (1973, 1975, and 1976).
He was elected to the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1979.http://www.usghof.org/files/bio/a_grossfeld/a_grossfeld.html
He was named Gymnastics Federation Coach of the Year in 1984.
Grossfeld, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 1991.
He received the USA Gymnastics “Spirit of the Flame Award” in 1999.
Grossfeld received the World Acrobatic Society’s Acrobatic Legend Award in 2001.
He was elected into National Judges Frank Cumiskey Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
and current American gymnastics coach.
Grossfeld has represented the United States as a gymnastics competitor or coach in seven Olympic Games, seven World Championships, six Maccabiah Games, and five Pan American Games — in addition to many other major gymnastics events.
Early life
Grossfeld was an excellent athlete in many sports from a young age. He won gold medals in two Jr. Olympic CyclingCycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
Championships, (1949–50). He also won the New York City 4 X 50 relay team title at Madison Square Garden in 1949, and the Bronx High School high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
and standing long jump
Standing long jump
The standing long jump is an athletics event. It was an Olympic event until 1912.In performing the standing long jump, the jumper stands at a line marked on the ground with their feet slightly apart. The athlete takes off and lands using both feet, swinging their arms and bending their knees to...
titles in 1949. Grossfeld was also Captain of his high school swimming team, and competed mostly in the 50 yd. and 100 yd. freestyle events. In addition, he helped the team as a diver, and also swam and competed unattached in the NYC Boys’ Swimming Championships, winning gold in the 100 and silver in diving in 1949.
He was awarded the “New York Maritime Benevolent Association Medal” in 1951 for saving a human life in peril. When he was 16 years old, he dove into an ice filled river in New York to save a drowning five-year old.
College
Grossfeld finished 2nd in the individual all-around at the 1957 NCAA Championships (he attended the University of IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, class of 1960). He received a master’s degree from the school in 1962.
At the NCAAs he won four gold - AA, FX, two HB titles, and three silver and three bronze medals. He finished in the top three in 10 of 16 events, (1957–59). At the Big Ten Championships he won seven gold medals - 3 AA, FX, R, PB, & HB (1957–59). At the national AAU Championships he was four times the horizontal bar champion (1955–61).
World Championships
He competed in the World Championships in 1958, finishing 7th in the team competition and 53rd in the individual all-around.Four years later, Grossfeld again competed in the World Championships, when the U.S. team placed 6th and Grossfeld finished 85th in the all-around.
Competing
A two-time OlympianOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for the United States' men's gymnastics team, Grossfeld first competed at the 1956 Melbourne Games. While the U.S. finished 6th overall in the team competition (271.5 points, only 5 points behind Czechoslovakia for the bronze medal), Grossfeld finished in 39th place in the individual all-around competition (107.75 points). During the Games, he also placed 13th in the horizontal bar, 23rd in the free-standing exercise, 34th in the rings, 48th in the parallel bars, and 52nd in the pommel horse.
Four years later, at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, the U.S. team finished 5th and Grossfeld placed 36th in the all-around.
Coaching
After retiring from international competition, he coached the American gymnasts at the 1964, 1972, 1984, and 1988 Olympics. His 1984 team, with Mitch GaylordMitch Gaylord
Mitchell Jay Gaylord , is an American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist.Gaylord was born in Van Nuys, California, son of Fred and Linda Gaylord. While attending UCLA, he won the All-Around in the 1983 and 1984 U.S...
, won the combined exercises championship.
Pan American Games
He had more success at the Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, competing in 1955, 1959, and 1963. He won 15 medals (eight golds; including three for Horizontal Bar championships), including the gold in the individual all-around in 1959.
Maccabiah Games
Grossfeld also dominated the Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
in 1953, 1957 (winning 7 golds in 7 events; AA, R, PH, FX, HB, PB, & V), and 1965, winning a combined 17 gold medals.
Coaching
After retiring from competition, Grossfeld turned to coaching. He served as head coach of U.S. men's gymnastics team at five World Championships (1966, 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987), and head coach of the U.S. team at Pan American Games in 1983 and 1987.He was also the head coach of the men's team at the 1986 Goodwill Games
Goodwill Games
The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
.
In addition, he coached the U.S. gymnasts in three Maccabiah Games: 1973, 1977 (men and women), and 1981. His 1981 squad won three team gold medals.
During this time, he also became a professor of physical education and became head gymnastics coach at Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
, helping the program become one of the best in the country.
He coached four Nissen Award winners (akin to football’s Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
), three NCAA Div. II championship teams, 10 Consecutive Eastern Collegiate Conference (EIGL) team championships (1975-’84), and 148 gymnasts who achieved All American status.
Among those he coached were Peter Kormann
Peter Kormann
Peter Kormann is a retired American gymnast and gymnastics coach. In the 1976 Olympics, he became the first American to medal in competition against the Soviets, with a floor exercise bronze.-References:Coach: USA Men 1996 and 2000...
, first U.S. Olympic individual gymnastics medalist since 1932; John Crosby, two World Cup individual gold medals; and three Pan American individual gold medal winners (1971 & ’75).
Halls of Fame and awards
Grossfeld was awarded the “Big Ten Medal of Honor” in 1959, when he was also voted the University of Illinois’ “Athlete of the Year.”He received the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Master of Sports Award in 1960.
He was chosen NCAA National Coach of the Year three times (1973, 1975, and 1976).
He was elected to the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1979.http://www.usghof.org/files/bio/a_grossfeld/a_grossfeld.html
He was named Gymnastics Federation Coach of the Year in 1984.
Grossfeld, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1991.
He received the USA Gymnastics “Spirit of the Flame Award” in 1999.
Grossfeld received the World Acrobatic Society’s Acrobatic Legend Award in 2001.
He was elected into National Judges Frank Cumiskey Hall of Fame.
Miscellaneous
- Grossfeld established the first gymnastics program at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1962.
- Abie Grossfeld Circle became the name of a street in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, in 1979.