Paul Costello

For the Australian rugby union player, see Paul Costello (rugby union). For the Irish designer and artist, see Paul Costelloe.

Paul Vincent Costello (December 27, 1894 – April 17, 1986) was an American triple Olympic gold medal winner in rowing.^[1] He was the first rower to win a gold medal in the same event, double sculls, at three consecutive Olympics. He also won numerous national titles in both the single and double scull in the 1920s.^[2]

Paul Costello

McIlvaine and Costello (right) at the 1928 Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Paul Vincent Costello
Born	December 27, 1894 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	April 17, 1986 (aged 91) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
Sport	Rowing
Club	Penn AC, Philadelphia
Medal record Representing the  United States Olympic Games 1920 Antwerp Double sculls 1924 Paris Double sculls 1928 Amsterdam Double sculls Gold Cup Challenge 1924 Philadelphia Single sculls

Costello won the double sculls race with his cousin John B. Kelly Sr., also known as Jack Kelly at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, and the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France. Costello repeated his winning ways at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with new partner Charles McIlvaine.^[2]

Historically, Costello has been overshadowed somewhat by Kelly who was also a triple Olympic gold medalist, having won both the single and double scull at the 1920 games, along with the double sculls at the 1924 games. Kelly gained additional fame as the father of both Grace Kelly, actress and Princess of Monaco, and John B. Kelly Jr., an accomplished oarsman in his own right. Costello and Kelly both rowed for the Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia.^[2]

Achievements and awards

• Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1920 Olympic Games
• Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1924 Olympic Games
• Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1928 Olympic Games
• Member, United States Rowing Hall of Fame, Double Scull, (elected 1956)

References

1. "Paul Costello". Olympedia. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Paul Costello". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020.

Sources

• US Rowing Hall of Fame at the Wayback Machine (archived February 10, 2006)
• Hickok Sports
• Paul Costello at databaseOlympics.com at the Wayback Machine (archived March 1, 2007)