Chester Beach

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameChester•Beach
Used nameChester•Beach
Born23 May 1881 in San Francisco, California (USA)
Died6 August 1956 in Brewster, New York (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Chester Beach was the father of Beata Beach. He had studied architectural design and drawing in San Francisco first and then worked as a jewelry designer. He then studied in Paris from 1904-07 at the Académie Julian. This was followed by a study visit to Roma. Back in the US he built a studio in Manhattan and became well-known as a sculptor in bronze and marble, and as a designer and engraver of American coins. In 1946 he was awarded the Saltus Medal of the Numismatic Society for his work in medals. Beach was president of the National Sculpture Society and a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. In 1910 he had invented a small electric motor, which led to the development of kitchen mixers.

The “Greek Games” were held at the Barnard College for Women in New York since 1904. The 1905 class commissioned Chester Beach with a sculpture to mark the 25th anniversary of the Games. The statue was unveiled in 1927 and sent to Amsterdam in 1928. A Greek inscription is chiselled into the base, which translates to “winner is the one who runs first and last”, related to the torch relay. The bronze statue used to be located in the lobby, later outside behind Barnard Hall. After having suffering from the weather, it was restored in 2014.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Art Competitions USA Chester Beach
Sculpturing, Statues, Open (Olympic) AC

Olympic family relations