Rosie Chapman Named Olympic Development Program Manager for US Sailing

Rosie Chapman has been appointed as the new Olympic Development Program (ODP) Manager by US Sailing, taking over the position that was left vacant by Lenando Spina a year ago. Chapman’s main focus will be on supporting the development of athletes in the Olympic disciplines and nurturing the next generation of high-performance coaches.

With a background in both competing and coaching, Chapman brings a wealth of experience to the role. Originally from the UK, she transitioned to coaching at a young age after competing with the British sailing team in the ILCA 6 and 470 due to injuries. Chapman has already made a significant impact in the US, coaching the Youth Worlds team to consecutive gold medals in 2017 and 2018, and winning National Coach of the Year in 2018.

In her new role, Chapman will work towards bridging the gap between performance in youth classes and full Olympic disciplines. She will be coaching athletes at the ILCA6 Under-21 Worlds this summer and leading the ODP training program for the upcoming LA2028 Quad, providing structure and support for aspiring Olympians.

Chapman’s appointment also marks a commitment to increasing opportunities for female coaches in high-performance sailing. She will work closely with coaches in the high-performance space, facilitating coach development cohorts and sharing best practices from the international level and other sports in the Olympic movement.

“I am really excited about this next chapter,” said Chapman. “I see so much potential, dedication, and talent in the US. I am looking forward to being able to impact and help athletes transition from the youth space into the Olympic. With LA28 around the corner, we have a great opportunity as a country to produce world-class athletes for a home Olympics.”