| Birth Date: | September 23, 1908 |
| Birth Place: | Bellingham, Washington, U.S.[1] |
| Death Date: | October 27, 1992 (aged 84) |
| Death Place: | Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Height: | 198 cm |
| Weight: | 97 kg |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Event: | Shot put, discus throw |
| Pb: | SP – 15.44 m (1930) DT – 51.73 m (1930)[2] |
| Club: | WAC, Seattle |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
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 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 in).[1] [2] [8] [9] This record lasted until 1934, when it was beaten by Sweden's Harald Andersson. Jessup repeated as national champion in 1931.[1] [9]
Jessup showed consistent form in early 1932 and was considered the leading favorite for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles,[3] [10] [11] as his main rival, Krenz, had drowned in a boating accident in August 1931.[11] [12] [13] However, 1928 Olympian John Anderson displaced him as the national leader at the Eastern Tryouts. At the final Olympic Trials Jessup placed second, behind Anderson.[14] [15] 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] [14]