Paolo Costoli

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full namePaolo•Costoli
Used namePaolo•Costoli
Born12 August 1910 in Campi Bisenzio, Firenze (ITA)
Died28 January 1966 in Stuhr, Niedersachsen (GER)
Measurements170 cm
AffiliationsR.N. Florentia, Firenze (ITA)
NOC Italy

Biography

Paolo Costoli was one of Italy’s top swimmers between the Wars. He won 19 Italian titles in his career, including seven in the 1,500 metre freestyle. He also played water polo with Rari Nantes Florentia and won four Italian Championships and placed fifth with the National team at the 1938 European Championships.

At the European Swimming Championships Costoli won silver medals in the 400 and 1,500 freestyles in 1934, also taking bronze medals in the 400 and 1,500 in 1931, and winning bronze medals in the 4x200 freestyle relay in 1931 and 1934.

Costoli later became a coach. He was coaching the Italian team that was called to compete in the important Bremen’s meeting at the beginning of 1966. On the evening of 28 January Costoli died in an aviation crash alongside Olympians Bruno Bianchi, Dino Rora and Sergio De Gregorio, and several other swimmers – Amedeo Chimisso, Carmen Longo, Daniela Samuele, Luciana Massenzi, and the well-known sports commentator Nico Sapio. At the funeral in Roma every coffin was covered by an Olympic flag.

Every year the Federazione Italiana Nuoto, the Italian Swimming Federation, commemorates the victims of the crash in Bremen with the trophy Coppa Caduti di Brema.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) ITA Paolo Costoli
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 3 h5 r1/3
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) DNS
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) Italy AC h3 r1/2
1932 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) ITA Paolo Costoli
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 6 h1 r2/3
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 5 h1 r2/3

Special Notes