Fred Borchelt

Last updated

Fred Borchelt
Fred-Borchelt-819x1024.png
Personal information
Full nameEarl Frederick Borchelt
Born (1954-06-12) June 12, 1954 (age 71)
Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1984 Los Angeles Men's eights
World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1981 Münich M4+
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1979 Bled M2+
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1982 Lucerne M4+

Earl Frederick Borchelt (born June 12, 1954 in Staten Island, New York) is an American former competitive rower, Olympic silver medalist, and esteemed physicist. He was a member of the American men's eights team that won the silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. [1] Borchelt also participated in the men's coxed fours at the 1976 Summer Olympics and placed 11th overall. [2]

In 2007, Borchelt was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award given to civilians by the U.S. legislative branch. The entire American team that was supposed to compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics was awarded the medals because of the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. [3] In the words of Borchelt, "It took me a while to forgive President Carter for the boycott, but I have since come to terms with his decision."

Fred Borchelt is a member of the Alexandria City High School Athletic Hall of Fame [4] and is a Rutgers University alumnus. He has worked as a patent examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office and as the varsity crew coach at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, MA. As of 2023, Borchelt resides in Sterling, Massachusetts and continues to teach all levels of high school physics at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, MA.

References

  1. "Rowing at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games: Men's coxed eights". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  2. "Rowing at the 1976 Montréal Summer Games: Men's coxed fours". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  3. "Congress awards 1980 U.S. Olympians Congressional Gold Medals". (The Associated Press). ESPN. December 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  4. Miles, Vernon (October 6, 2022). "Olympian Noah Lyles and other Alexandria athletes inducted into Hall of Fame this weekend". ALXNow. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

"Fred Borchelt". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.