David Costill has done more to help generations of elite athletes set world records and reach peak performances than they may ever realize.
Costill, a pioneer in the study of exercise science, chaired the Human Performance Laboratory at Ball State University from 1966 to 1998. His research included ways to maximize the performance of athletes, the study of heart disease in elderly men, and the effect of exercise on diabetes. His collaboration with Swedish colleagues revealed that humans have different types of muscle fibers, helping explain why some runners excel at sprinting while others have greater endurance. Recently, he has conducted research with cosmonauts and astronauts aboard the International Space Station to help counteract the loss in muscle during weightlessness.
“Dr. Costill’s contributions to research and education in the applied physiology of exercise have made him what many would argue is the most recognized and respected person in this field in the entire world,” said David R. Lamb, professor emeritus in Ohio State’s School of Physical Activity and Educational Services.
During his career, Costill was awarded research grants totaling more than $3.5 million. He published hundreds of articles and wrote six books that were printed in seven languages. His textbook has had 22 foreign translations into 10 languages. He also made presentations in dozens of countries and was featured on television programs and in the New York Times.
Some of Costill’s earliest studies focused on the importance of sports drinks for marathon runners, using grants from the now-popular Gatorade.
Costill was an early leader in using needle biopsy procedures to study the changes induced by exercise and diet in the storage of carbohydrates and fat in fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers. In fact, he is credited with popularizing carbohydrate loading for endurance athletes.
“One of Dr. Costill’s most valuable characteristics is his talent for communicating equally effectively with scientists and athletes, both in writing and in the lecture hall,” Lamb said. “His books on science, running, and swimming have been best-sellers. Students, athletes, and faculty members flock to his lectures to hear him artfully, simply, and humorously explain complex physiological mechanisms.”
Costill was president of the American College of Sports Medicine in 1976–77 and has received several awards from the group. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education and served on the U.S. Olympic committee on sports medicine.
In 1988, Costill was appointed the first Distinguished Professor at Ball State, where he mentored nearly 150 master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students. He received the John and Janice Fisher Chair in Exercise Science, and since his retirement continues to serve as emeritus professor.
Costill has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, the Cuyahoga Falls School Foundation, and the Gatorade Sports Science Group.
“Dr. Costill almost single-handedly helped popularize the field of exercise science with his vast scholarly contributions and his zeal for addressing practical issues,” said Robert Murray, director of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.