![]() Jessup in 1930 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | September 23, 1908 Bellingham, Washington, U.S. [1] |
Died | October 27, 1992 (aged 84) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) |
Weight | 97 kg (214 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | Shot put, discus throw |
Club | WAC, Seattle |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | SP – 15.44 m (1930) DT – 51.73 m (1930) [1] [2] |
Paul Boulet Jessup (September 23, 1908 – October 27, 1992) was an American discus thrower and shot putter. He set a discus world record in 1930 and was a leading favorite for the 1932 Summer Olympics, but only placed eighth in the Olympic final. [1]
Competing for the University of Washington Huskies, Jessup placed fourth at the 1929 NCAA Championships in both the shot and the discus. [1] He was also the captain of the Washington football team, playing offensive tackle and defensive center. [3] [4] Jessup improved further in 1930, setting his personal bests that year. [1] In an early dual meet against Stanford University, he threw the discus 48.23 meters (158 ft 2+7⁄8 in) and was only narrowly beaten by Stanford's world record holder Eric Krenz. [5] At the 1930 NCAA Championships Jessup went one better by surprisingly beating Krenz; [6] nevertheless, Krenz was selected by coaches as top All-American ahead of Jessup. [7]
Jessup won his first national championship in the discus in August 1930, beating Krenz's world record in the process with a throw of 51.73 meters (169 ft 7+7⁄8 in). [1] [2] [8] [9] This record lasted until 1934, when it was beaten by Sweden's Harald Andersson. [10] Jessup repeated as national champion in 1931. [1] [9]
Jessup showed consistent form in early 1932 [11] and was considered the leading favorite for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, [3] [11] [12] as his main rival, Krenz, had drowned in a boating accident in August 1931. [12] [13] [14] However, 1928 Olympian John Anderson displaced him as the national leader at the Eastern Tryouts. [15] At the final Olympic Trials Jessup placed second, behind Anderson. [15] [16] Anderson went on to win the gold medal at the Olympics, while Jessup had an off day, only managing 8th with a throw of 45.25 m (148 ft 4 in). [1] [15]