Ten things to know about Luxembourg’s history at the Olympic Games
The Beijing Olympics start this Friday, February 4. For the occasion, discover ten facts (sometimes unusual) to know about Luxembourg’s participation in this competition.
1 – Luxembourg has participated 34 times 🇱🇺
Since the first Games in 1900, Luxembourg has taken part in the Olympic Games 34 times. More precisely 25 participations in the Summer Games and 9 in the Winter Games. There are also more Luxembourg participants in the Summer Games, on average around ten, compared to only two for these 2022 Games in Beijing for example.
Luxembourg officially participated in its first Summer Olympics in 1912 in Stockholm. The country also competed in its first Winter Games in 1928 in Saint Moritz. In the history of the modern Games, the competition has been canceled only three times: in 1916, in 1940 and 1944, due to world wars.
2 – The country holds only one gold medal… 🥇
The country won only one gold medal over 34 editions thanks to Josy Barthel, in 1952 in Helsinki. It was on a 1,500 meters. A victory to everyone’s surprise, since the race seemed promised to the German Werner Lueg, who had equaled the world record a month before the Games.
But Josy Barthel succeeded in the race of his life: he overtook Lueg 50 meters from the finish, then resisted the return of McMillen. He completes the 1,500 meters in 3 min 45 s 1. (The current record for this discipline is set at 3:28:32).
The surprise was really total and for good reason: the band did not have the score of the Luxembourg anthem. She was forced to improvise a hymn and the young Josy Barthel, then aged 25, shed a few tears.
3 – …Really?! 🥇🥇🥇
If Josy Barthel’s gold medal is a benchmark, Luxembourg actually has 3 gold medals! And this, thanks to Jean Jacoby, double gold medalist in 1924 and 1928 in the art events.
The Games of the time were full of events, each crazier than the next. An artistic competition of the Olympiads was set up in 1912 and was a great success in 1924, in Paris, since 193 artists competed there.
The 33-year-old Luxembourger, Jacoby, will win the day in the painting category, with his work “Study of sport”, composed of a triptych “Corner – Football. Departure – Athletics and Rugby”.
He would repeat the feat four years later, at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, recalling a second gold medal in the “drawing” category, with his work “Rugby”.
4 – Three gold medals and… three silver 🥈
In the medal register, Luxembourg has also won three silver medals throughout its history. A in 1920, Thanks to the weightlifter, Joseph Alzina in Antwerp and two others in 1992thanks to mark GirardelliAustrian alpine skier naturalized from Luxembourg.
After 19 years of career without an Olympic medal, it was a nice revenge for Girardelli, who did not start at all preferred in this event. Six times elected “sportsman of the year in Luxembourg”, he will have marked the history of Grand Ducal sport.
5 – A first Franco-Luxembourgish victory in 1900 🇫🇷🇱🇺
If the first Luxembourg gold medal was won in 1924 by Jean Jacoby, another Luxembourger distinguished himself 24 years earlier. This is Michel Théato, Prime Minister Franco-Luxembourgish already Olympic champion in the history of French athletics.
He won his gold medal in the Bois de Boulogne, at La Croix-Catelanon July 19, 1900, reporting a marathon there. These Belle Époque Games lasted from May to October with events as improbable as tug of war, pigeon shooting, balloon race, etc..
In 1900, the Olympic marathon was run over a distance of 40,260 km. The young Michel was only 22 years old when he set off, under a blazing sun: 39°C under the trees of the Bois de Boulogne. It’s simple: only seven runners will cross the finish line because of the heat. Michel Théato won in 2h 59 min. and 45s.
If his victory is disputed (he is Luxembourgish, not French!), it is in the name of France that he will be declared the winner. ➡ Our colleagues from Parisian also tell his epic.
6 – Luxembourg shines in three sports ✨
With four medals in total (if we exclude Michel Théato and Jean Jacoby), the Grand Duchy has shown little in its 34 editions. Three distinct sports stand out: athletics, weightlifting and alpine skiing.
This last discipline will also be in the spotlight on the Luxembourg side for the Beijing Games which begin this Friday.
7 – Danièle Kaber, record girl in athletics, finished her Olympic marathon in 2h30 🏃♀
A specialist in long-distance and middle-distance races, Danièle Kaber holds the national records for the 5,000m, 10,000m, half-marathon and marathon.
It’s in 1988 in Seoul that she signs a performance of choice by taking the seventh place of the marathon. The athlete goes below the symbolic bar of 2:30. The current record for a woman in this discipline is 2h 23m and 7s.
Her results in competition earned her the title of Luxembourg sportswoman of the year three times, in 1985, 1986 and 1988 respectively.
8 – A first female participation in 1924 👩
It was in 1924 in Paris that sportsmen appeared for the first time in the Luxembourg Olympic team. They were three: two swimmers (Renée Brasseur and Lory Koster) and a tennis player (rosel Le Gallais), who played doubles with Camille Wolff, but had to forfeit.
Women did not miss the call except during the Games in Berlin (1936), Helsinki (1952), Montreal (1976) and Moscow (1980).
9 – Josy Stoffel holds the record for participation in the Olympics 🏆
With five participations, gymnast Josy Stoffel Dholds the record for participation in the Games (1948 London, 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, 1964 Tokyo), without however winning a medal.
He was born on June 27, 1928 in Differdange and won the title of Luxembourg Champion in artistic gymnastics 15 times, which (also) remains a record today. He died on March 9, 2021 in Esch-sur-Alzette, at the age of 92.
ten – The average age of Luxembourg athletes for Beijing is 20.5 years old 👶
Gwyneth ten Raa and Matthieu Osch represent Luxembourg for these Winter Games in Beijing. With 16 and 22 years respectively, they will give a breath of fresh air to these Games.
A student at the Royal Athenaeum of Bastogne, the young Luxembourger will live her first Olympic experience and impose herself with her talent.
As for Matthieu Osch, already present in Pyeongchang four years ago, this will be an opportunity to further refine his form on the glaciers.
Follow the news of our Luxembourg athletes at the Winter Olympics throughout the competition, on our site and mobile application.
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