Jeff Kostoff

Jeffrey James Kostoff (born August 19, 1965) is an American former competition swimmer who competed for Stanford University specializing in freestyle distance events, and represented the United States at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Soul Olympics. Though failing to medal in his Olympic appearances, Kostoff held a long-standing American High School record in the 500-yard freestyle, and at one time held National High School records in both the 1000 and 1500-yard distances. After his swimming career, he worked as an age group and collegiate swimming coach. As a specialist in distance swimming, he established and continued to hold for thirty years the American High School 500-yard freestyle record, from 1983-2013, and held shorter lived American High School records in the 1000 and 1500 yard distances. where in June, 1982, he won the 800, 400, and 1500 meter freestyles, at the Meet of Champions at Mission Viejo, in Mission Viejo, California. An important early coach, Spencer began working with Kostoff in late 1980.

Stanford University Kostoff attended and competed in swimming for Stanford University, under Hall of Fame Head Coach Skip Kenney, where he was a recipient of All-American honors five times. He was an NCAA champion in the 400-meter Individual Medley in 1987. For a twenty-one year period from 1986-2007, Kostoff set and continued to hold Stanford's school record for the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Olympics Managed by Olympic Head Coach Don Gambril at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Kostoff finished in sixth place in the final of the men's 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:23.28, just over 3 seconds behind contending for a bronze medal. Canadian Alex Baumann of Canada, a pre-Games favorite, won the gold with a world record time of 4:17.41, Brazilian swimmer Ricardo Prado took the silver with a time of 4:18.45, and Australian Rob Woodhouse took the bronze with a time of 4:20.50.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Kostoff advanced to the B Final of the 400-meter individual medley under Head Olympic Coach Eddie Reese and Assistant Coach Randy Reese. Kostoff finished ninth overall with a time of 4:22.95.

He has lived in Minnesota with his wife Carol, a hospital administrator, with whom he had two stepsons.