The Olympics got worldwide attention this summer.
But another big sporting event drew thousands of athletes too.
The Maccabi Youth games, in London, are called “the Jewish Olympics.” Participants are Jewish athletes from around the world.
Among them: Jonny Costello. The Staples High School rising senior — about to begin his 3rd varsity season for the Wreckers — was among the 18 players representing the US in Under-18 age group competition.
Jonny Costello (#24), as a junior playing for Staples. (Photo/Mark Sikorski)
He did more than just “represent.” Jonny was the team’s leading scorer, and was chosen as captain for the 3rd place match against Germany. He came through big time with 2 goals and an assist, helping the US win the bronze.
The Americans — with players from across the country — faced teams from the UK, France, Argentina and Germany.
Though they met for the first time at the airport, they meshed quickly and played excellent soccer.
Jonny Costello, at the Maccabi Games.
There’s more to Jonny’s story than soccer, though.
He has stuttered since he was 5. It hindered him socially when he was younger, in New York City.
Before his family moved to Westport just before 4th grade, he worried his new classmates might think he was “weird.”
But he blasted a home run on his first day at Coleytown Elementary School. That was all he needed, to make his mark — and make friends.
In 2019, as his bar mitzvah loomed — a time when a 13-year-old must speak publicly, and confidently — Jonny did his project about his stutter.
He created a “crash course” video, using quick illustrations to explain concepts. (His vocal cords shut when he speaks. He has no trouble putting thoughts together. They just don’t always come out as quickly as he’d like.)
In the video, he talked about his own life (including a worker at Subway, who asks what’s wrong when he’s trying to order).
He offered strategies for family members, teachers, friends and strangers: Be patient. Don’t finish sentences for someone. Be kind.
The video was shown at his bar mitzvah. The synagogue erupted in cheers.
Jonny’s parents, Sean and Lauren, emailed it to the guests. It was uploaded to YouTube.
Almost immediately, the video went viral.
Speech therapists in Sweden and Portugal asked for translations. A girl watched it 4 times, then asked her teacher to show it to the class. An 18-year-old who had lived his life “in the shadows” said that Jonathan’s video perfectly articulated his life.
It even reached the most famous stutterer in the world: Joe Biden.
Soon, Jonny met the former vice president.
Fast forward to London, where Jonny assumed a leadership role on the Maccabi squad.
The event’s media team was impressed. They made their own video, highlighting Jonny’s accomplishments on and off the pitch.
There’s an old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.”
In Jonny Costello’s case, it should be: “His actions speak as clearly as his words.”
(In 2019, “06880” reported on Jonny’s bar mitzvah video. Click here for that story.”)
(“06880” reports often on the achievements of Westport’s young people. If you enjoy our coverage, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
