Frank Chapot, American equestrian, Died at 84

  Dead Famous

Francis Davis “Frank” Chapot was born on February 24, 1932, in Camden, New Jersey and died on June 20, 2016.

He was an American equestrian.

Francis competed at six Olympic Games from 1956 until his final effort in 1976 where he won two silver medals in the Team Mixed Jumping.

His wife was fellow Olympic equestrian Mary Mairs-Chapot in 1965.

Together they were on the same Mixed Jumping team in 1964 and 1968, narrowly missing out on bronze in 1968 by 0.25 points.

Together they retired to raise horses at Chado Farm, including the champion show jumper, Gem Twist, who won two Olympic silver medals and was named World’s Best Horse at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm.

However, Gem Twist had an incredible career at the Grand Prix level.

The gelding was the only horse to have won the “American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year” title three times, and is regarded as having been one of the best show-jumpers in the history of the discipline

Laura Chapot and Wendy Chapot Nunn, the couple daughters also are expert equestrians.

Frank Chapot was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1994, two years after his wife Mary.

He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1955.

Becoming a strong competitor in international horse show circles, he chose to follow that career.

Frank Chapot spent two years in the United States Air Force, serving between the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Frank Chapot often attributed his success to being chosen as a member of the Olympic team and having a good relationship with Bertalan de Némethy, the aristocratic Hungarian who coached the U.S. show jumpers more than two decades and whose role Chapot assumed during the early 1980s.

Frank Chapot also was invited to judge at many shows in the circuit.

He died in Neshanic Station, New Jersey, at home after declining health.

Frank Chapot was survived by his wife Mary and their two daughters.

Frank Chapot passed away at 84 yrs old.