H i s t o r y

 
11.11.1928

Until November 11th, 1928, athletic activities in Luxembourg had been directed by the « Fédération des Sociétés Luxembourgeoises des Sports Athlétiques ». On that precise day was then founded the « Fédération Luxembourgeoise d’Athlétisme » : F.L.A.

Like any other athletics federation in the world, FLA organised and directed activities in track and field, cross-country, road race and walking. Then at the beginning of the eighties a new kind of sports came up : triathlon. As there are many similarities between classical athletics and triathlon, the two movements have been working together since in 1986.
 
FLA PRESIDENTS
 
Edmond Marx : 1928 - 1940
Alex Servais :1945 - 1947
Jos Lucius :1947 - 1958
Pierre Wies : 1958
Jos Lucius : 1959
Emile Goebel : 1960 - 1961
François Mersch : 1961 - 1962
Josy Barthel :1962 - 1972
Nobert Haupert : 1973 - 1979
Mil Jung : 1980 - 1989
Jean-Marie Janssen :1991 - 2000
Alex Bodry : 2001 - …
 
Sports

Up from the start the FLA is contributing successfully to sports activities in Luxembourg. But even before FLA existed, Luxembourg athlets participated at international competitions e.g. Olympic Games. In Paris in 1900, Michel Teato was the winner of the olympic marathon. Michel Teato had the Luxembourg citizenship but as he lived in France was participating at the games for his French club, that was usual those days. So nobody in the Grand-Duchy knew that Luxembourg won gold in Paris.

The first official Luxembourg athlets at Olympic Games were Paul Fournelle (100 m) and Marcel Pelletier (discus and shot put) in Stockholm (SWE) in 1912.
 
Josy Barthel

He is so far Luxembourg’s only gold medal winner at olympic games. In 1948 in London (GBR), he finished 9th in the final of 1500 m. At the Olympic Games in Helsinki (FIN) in 1952 no one of his opponents in the final could resist Josy Barthel’s sprint finish. He won the gold medal establishing a new olympic record in 3.45.2.
After his carrer as an athlet Josy Barthel became in 1962 president of FLA, thereafter he was for four years president of the Luxembourg olympic commitee COSL. He was also member of the Luxembourg government.

Eng impressionnant Vides Cassette gouf vum COSL /FLA/ & T.H. zesummen gestallt. Fir weider Froen (Verkaaf etc..) bei der FLA  no froen
hei kënnt ën ! O.Toun Josy Barthel
Josy Barthel
 
 
Other extraordinary performances in the past

In 1988 in Seoul (KOR) Danièle Kaber finished 7th place in olympic marathon

Charles Sowa participated in 4 editions of the O.G. (1960, 1964, 1968, 1972) and finished 9th in 1964 and got 10th in Munich (GER) in 50 km race walking.

Nancy Kemp Arendt finished 10th in Sydney (AUS) at the first olympic triathlon competition.

Roland Bombardella reached the semifinal over 200 m in Montreal (CAN) in 1976.

In March 2000 Carlos Calvo reached at the EAA European Indoor Championships in Gent (BEL) the half final over 800 m, the best performance of a Luxembourg athlet at these championships so far.
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Charles Sowa

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Nancy Kemp-Arendt
 
Recently

2001: David Fiegen reaches the final of the IAAF Youth World Championships in Debrescen (HUN) over 800 m. A couple of weeks later he wins the EYOD in Murcia (ESP). 

Chantal Hayen reaches the semi-final over 100 m in Debrescen. 

Other young athletes are quite successful that year: Patrick Hansen reaches the final at EYOD in long jump as well as Jeff Reuter does in high jump.

David Fiegen
 
2002

At the EAA European Indoor Championships in Vienna (AUT) David Fiegen reaches the final over 800 m and sets two N.R. during the series and the semi-final. The best ever performance of a Luxembourg athlete. Fiegen wins the bronze medal at the IAAF Junior World Championships in Kingston (JAM)

Liz May gets European U23 Vice-champion in Duathlon in Teplice (SVK), she becomes aquathlon junior world cahmpion and finishes third at the ITU triathlon junior World Championships in Cancun (MEX)
 
2003          HAPPY BIRTHDAY 75 years

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05.11.2003_ Vernissage vun der Ausstellung "75 Joër FLA" an der "Belle-Etoile"
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08.12.2003 Akademësch Sëtzung an der Coque
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