John B. Kelly: An American Champion
Great champion oarsman John B. Kelly, Sr. (1889-1960) appears in a single scull in this bronze monument erected by the Friends of Jack Kelly.
A native Philadelphian, Kelly was a three-time Olympic champion in Men’s Rowing, winning the Gold Medal in singles and doubles in 1920
and the doubles in 1924. He was father to actress Princess Grace Kelly.
Photo: Caitlin Martin for the Association of Public Art.
This story first appeared in Irish America in the summer of 1996 as the games of the Games of the XXVI Olympiad began.
John Brendan Kelly, father of Princess grace of Monaco, won two Olympic Gold medals in 1920 and one in 1924, competing in a sport which was the reserve of gentlemen, the single and double sculls. He remains the only American ever to win the Gold in single sculls. Kelly came from a family of achievers, whose story is embedded in Irish America. His daughter, Grace Kelly, became the world’s princess, but John`Jack’ Kelly was