Olympic medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Equestrian | ||
Representing the United States | ||
1932 Los Angeles | Team eventing | |
1932 Los Angeles | Individual show jumping |
Harry Dwight Chamberlin (May 19, 1887 – September 29, 1944) was a medal-winning equestrian in eventing and show jumping. He was also a brigadier general in the US Army.
Harry had never ridden a horse before attending West Point, from which he graduated in 1910. However, he learned to ride incredibly well while at West Point under General Guy V. Henry, and went on to great accomplishments in various equestrian sports. Chamberlin was in active military duty in France during World War I, when he served with the 161 Brigade. It was during this time that he competed internationally for the first time, riding in the 1919 Inter-Allied Games, held in Paris (the 1916 Olympics were cancelled due to the war), before returning home.
Chamberlin was assigned to Fort Riley's Horsemanship Department and went on to compete at the 1920 Olympic Games with his mount Nigra. He was then sent to Europe to train for two years, the first year at the French Cavalry School in Saumur, and the second at the Italian Cavalry School in Tor di Quinto. While in Italy, he was introduced to the forward seat, which he brought back to the United States and which now dominates the hunter and jumper scene.
Chamberlin was then sent to Fort Bliss in Texas. In 1927, he returned to train the 1928 Olympic Team, which he captained in both eventing and jumping. During this time, he taught his teammates the forward seat, which was renamed by them as the "Chamberlin Seat." At the Olympics, the event team was eliminated when one of their riders missed an obstacle, despite having had the best cross-country rounds of the day. Chamberlin finished 21st individually in the event competition on Benny Grimes. In the jumping competition, Chamberlin competed again on Nigra, finishing 18th individually, and the American team placed 8th (out of 16 nations).