Miguel de Capriles

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Referee • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameMiguel Angel•de Capriles
Used nameMiguel•de Capriles
Born30 November 1906 in Ciudad de México (Mexico City), Ciudad de México (MEX)
Died24 May 1981 in San Francisco, California (USA)
AffiliationsSalle Santelli, New York (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 2
Total 2

Biography

Miguel deCapriles’ renown comes principally from his being the leading administrator of fencing in the U.S. for half a century. Emigrating to the States from Mexico in 1920, he began fencing while a student at NYU, but only achieved success after his 1927 graduation. Starting in 1930 he won 10 individual national titles and was a member of 12 national championship teams. Besides his Olympic medals, deCapriles had the distinction of being the first American to preside at an Olympic final when he was the president of jury at the individual sabre final at Berlin in 1936. He held a variety of AFLA posts until 1949, when he was elected president of that organization, holding office until 1953. In 1960 he was elected president of the Federacion International d’Escrime (FIE), becoming the first non-European to hold that post. In 1975, for his many contributions to amateur sport, he was named a recipient of the newly created Olympic Order. Miguel deCapriles spent nearly his entire professional career as a faculty member and administrator at New York University. Beginning as a professor of economics, he was later a law professor, dean of the law school, and eventually vice-president of the university. In 1975 he retired but then joined the faculty at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. His brother, Jose, competed at three Olympic Games and his wife, Dorothy, was women’s intercollegiate foil champion in 1932.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1932 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) United States 3 Bronze
1936 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) United States =5
1948 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) United States 3 Bronze

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
President Fédération internationale d’escrime 1961—1964 USA Miguel de Capriles

Referee

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Phase Unit Role As
1932 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Foil, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Épée, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Foil, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
Foil, Individual, Women (Olympic) Final Standings Jury
1936 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Foil, Individual, Men (Olympic) Round Two Pool 5 Judge
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Pool Judge
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Quarter-Finals Pool 3 Jury President
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Semi-Finals Hungary — Netherlands Judge
Foil, Individual, Women (Olympic) Round One Pool 2 Judge
1948 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Foil, Team, Men (Olympic) Semi-Finals France — Egypt Jury President
Foil, Team, Men (Olympic) Round One France — Ireland Jury President
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) Quarter-Finals Italy — Norway Jury President
1952 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Miguel de Capriles
Foil, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Épée, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Foil, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Final Standings Official
Foil, Individual, Women (Olympic) Final Standings Official

Olympic family relations

Special Notes