(ATR) Frank Chapot is remembered for a 50 year career as an Olympian and equestrian coach in the U.S.
Born in 1932, he died June 20 in New Jersey.
He won his first major championship as a 15-year-old prodigy. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School in 1955, he joined the United States Equestrian Team.
He was the youngest member of the USA Olympic Jumping Team when he made his Olympic debut in 1956, competing in Stockholm which was holding the equestrian events because of animal quarantine issues in Melbourne, Australia.
Chapot won the silver medal in 1960 at the Rome Olympics and again at Munich in 1972. He also competed in three Pan American Games.
After retiring from competition following the 1976 Olympics, Chapot became U.S. chef d’equipe. In his 25 years in that role, he led the U.S. equestrian team to nine Olympic medals and nine in the Pan Am Games for jumping.
Frank Chapot married his two-time Olympic teammate, Mary Mairs, in 1965. They competed together at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and again in 1968 in Mexico City . Their two daughters, Wendy and Laura , both became prize-winning equestrians .
"Frank was a legend in his own lifetime," said John Roche, director of jumping for the International Equestrian Federation.
"He was a horseman through and through, with an amazing eye for a horse. Apart from having an outstanding career as a rider, he was a very accomplished trainer. He was a passionate supporter of the Nations Cup competition and was on 46 winning Nations Cup teams.
"His passing marks the end of an era. He helped to shape equestrian sport in the United States and will be greatly missed by all those who were fortunate enough to have come in contact with him," Roche said.
A celebration of Chapot’s life will be held September 19 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Chapot requested no funeral or visitation.
Written by Ed Hula.
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