Jack Kelly Sr. (rower)
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Rowing | ||
 |
1920 | Single Scull |
|
1920 | Double Scull |
|
1924 | Double Scull |
John B. Kelly, Sr., also known as Jack Kelly, (October 4, 1989-June 20, 1960) was one of the most accomplished oarsman in the history of the sport rowing. He was a triple Olympic Gold Medal winner. He won 126 straight races in the single scull (1x). And he was the father of Grace Kelly, Actress and Princess of Monaco, (thus maternal grandfather of Albert II of Monaco), and of John B. Kelly, Jr., an accomplished oarsman in his own right.
At the time he won his races, rowing was a big-time sport in the United States. Kelly's exploits were well covered in newsprint. And in many ways, he was a figure comparable to Babe Ruth or Jack Dempsey.
Background and History
Jack Kelly represented the United States at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. In a hard-fought race, he won the single scull event. Half an hour later, he teamed with his cousin Paul Costello to win the double scull (2x) race, a feat which has never been repeated at the Olympic games. In 1924, Kelly and Costello repeated, winning the double-scull event at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Prior to the 1920 games, Kelly had applied to race in the single-scull event at the Henley Royal Regatta, one of the oldest and most prestigious event in the sport. He was given assurances by the U.S. Olympic committee that his application would be accepted. At the time, he was one of the most popular figures in the sport and in the midst of his 126-race winning streak.
His application to Henley was rejected. No explanation was given by the regatta, but the popular explanation was that he was not gentle enough to compete with gentleman because he worked with his hands as a bricklayer. (This explanation is not without merit, 8 years later the 1928 Olympic gold medalist Buddy Pearce's application to Henley was denied because he was a carpenter.) Another credible reason is that his club, Vesper Boat Club, had a long-running dispute with the Henley Regatta, and he was just a victim of that dispute.
Kelly had begun his career as a bricklayer, but by 1920, he owned a brick manufacturing company and was on his way to becoming a millionaire. A self-promoter, Kelly had coined the slogan, "Kelly for Brickwork," which was often seen at local construction sites. The actions of the Henley Regatta were good for business.
At the 1920 Olympics, Kelly extracted a measure of revenge by defeating the Henley champion, Jack Beresford. It was a tough race. Beresford was one of the most talented oarsmen of the day, and he would go on to medal at five Olympics. The race, one of the closest in Olympic history, featured a dramatic duel down the stretch with Kelly winning by a second.
Kelly extracted further revenge for his slight when his son, John B. Kelly, Jr., won the 1947 and 1949 single-scull race at Henley. Jack Jr. won the Sullivan Award in 1947 for this accomplishments. Jack Jr. would go on to represent the United States at the 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games. Jack Jr. would win the bronze medal in the single scull at the 1956 Olympics.
Kelly was also the father of Grace Kelly, a famous actress who became princess of Monaco when she married Prince Ranier in 1956. Kelly is the grandfather of Albert II, the reigning monarch of Monaco.
Kelly's brother George Kelly was a popular playwright and he won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
Kelly is the only rower who is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the United States Rowing Hall of Fame, having been elected in 1956 at the same time as his son Jack, Jr.
Achievements and Awards
- Gold Medal, Single Scull, 1920 Olypmic Games
- Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1920 Olympic Games
- Gold Medal, Double Scull, 1924 Olympic Games
- 126 race victory string in the single scull
- Self-made millionaire
- Member, United States Olympic Hall of Fame
- Member, United States Rowing Hall of Fame, Single Scull, (elected 1956 at the same time as his son, Jack Jr.)
- Member, United States Rowing Hall of Fame, Double Scull, (elected 1956)
