Abie Grossfeld has represented the United States as a gymnastics competitor or coach in seven Olympic Games, seven World Championships, and five Pan American Games—in addition to numerous other major gymnastics events.

He was head coach of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Gymnastics Teams of
1972, 1984, and 1988. His 1984 team won the Combined Exercises championship. He was also assistant coach of U.S. men for the 1964 Olympics and of U.S. women for the 1968 Games.

In 1966, 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1987, Grossfeld served as head coach of the American Men’s World Gymnastics Championships teams. From 1981 to 1988, he was a national coach of the
U.S. Gymnastics Team.

In 1982, Grossfeld was head coach of the U.S. World Cup men’s team. He was head coach of the U.S. men’s gymnastics teams for the 1983 and 1987 Pan American Games and was head coach of U.S. men competing in the 1986 International Goodwill Games. He also coached U.S. gymnasts for three World Maccabiah Games—1973, 1977 (men and women), and 1981. His 1981 squad
won three team gold medals.

As a competitor, Grossfeld competed internationally for the United States for 15 years, including in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games; the World Championships of 1958 and 1962; the Pan American Games of 1955, 1959, and 1963; and the World Maccabiah Games in 1953, 1957, and 1965.

Of his 15 Pan American Games medals, eight are gold and include three for Horizontal Bar championships. His Horizontal Bar gold medal record of 1955 stood until 1987—for 32 years! Competing in three Maccabiah Games, he captured 17 gold medals, including 7
in seven events in 1957.

Grossfeld is a 1960 University of Illinois graduate and received a master’s degree in 1962. In 1962, he established the first gymnastics program at the United States Coast Guard Academy
in New London, Connecticut. Since 1963, he has been a professor of physical education and head gymnastics coach at Southern Connecticut State University.

His many honors include Federation Internationale de Gymnastique
Master of Sports Award in 1960; election to the National Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1979, for “achievement as a gymnast, coach and contributor”; Gymnastics Federation Coach of the Year in 1984; and that same year, the naming of a street in New Haven, Connecticut: Abie Grossfeld Circle.