{{short description|American equestrian|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Darren Chiacchia | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|09|18}} | birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | headercolor = lightsteelblue | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Equestrian }} {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} {{MedalOlympics}} {{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | Team eventing }} }}
'''Darren Chiacchia''' (born September 18, 1964 in Buffalo, New York) is an American equestrian. He won a bronze medal in team eventing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, together with Kimberly Severson, John Williams, Amy Tryon and Julie Richards. He also competed in individual eventing, placing 12th.<ref name=sports-ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ch/darren-chiacchia-1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418064809/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ch/darren-chiacchia-1.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 18, 2020 | title=Profile: Darren Chiacchia |publisher=sports-reference.com |accessdate=January 9, 2012}}</ref>
Chiacchia gained national attention in 2008 when his mount, Baron Verdi fell on him at the Red Hills Horse Trials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tragedy Strikes At Red Hills Horse Trials - The Chronicle of the Horse |url=https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/tragedy-strikes-red-hills-horse-trials/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> Chiacchia was airlifted from the event, and remained in a coma for 42 days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-21 |title=Tragic Events at Red Hills Horse Trials |url=https://www.horseillustrated.com/horse-news-red-hills-horse-trials-accident-darren-chiacchia |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Horse Illustrated Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kleindienst |first=Linda |date=2015-03-04 |title=The Insurmountable Hurdle |url=https://www.tallahasseemagazine.com/the-insurmountable-hurdle/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Tallahassee Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The incident, along with the cases of two horses dying at the same event sparked debate about the safety of equestrian sports.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/sports/12hiv.html?pagewanted=1&src=mv&_r=0 Equestrian Charged With H.I.V.-Related Offense: In Ocala, the heart of Florida’s horse country, the equestrian rider Darren Chiacchia is a boldface name.]</ref>
Chiacchia was arrested in 2010 on felony charges for allegedly exposing a former sex partner to the HIV virus. Chiacchia first tested positive for HIV in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zuger |first=Abigail |last2=M.D |date=2010-04-19 |title=With AIDS, Time to Get Beyond Blame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/health/20essa.html |access-date=2024-05-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During their relationship from February to June 2009, Chiacchia's former partner claimed he did not disclose that he was HIV positive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Charlotte |date=2010-04-13 |title=Eventer Darren Chiacchia charged with exposing lover to HIV |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/eventing/eventer-darren-chiacchia-charged-with-exposing-lover-to-hiv-296903 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Horse & Hound |language=en}}</ref>
The charges were dismissed as intercourse in Florida law was defined as only being able to occur between a man and a woman.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/sports/12hiv.html?pagewanted=1&src=mv&_r=0 Equestrian Charged With H.I.V.-Related Offense: In Ocala, the heart of Florida’s horse country, the equestrian rider Darren Chiacchia is a boldface name.]</ref><ref>[http://www.ocala.com/article/20111006/ARTICLES/111009837#gsc.tab=0 Felony charge against noted equestrian is dropped]</ref> The case renewed discussion about laws that may discourage people for getting tested for the virus, which can lie dormant for many years.
The felony charge against Chiacchia was reinstated in 2013 after the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal reversed the lower court's decision.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/news/appellate-court-reinstates-criminal-case-against-eventer-darren-chiacchia.aspx#gsc.tab=0 |title=Appellate Court Reinstates Criminal Case Against Eventer Darren Chiacchia |access-date=June 18, 2014 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714042347/http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/news/appellate-court-reinstates-criminal-case-against-eventer-darren-chiacchia.aspx#gsc.tab=0 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In 2014 he was wanted for arrest after missing a court appearance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic equestrian star wanted in connection to HIV charges |url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2014/6/7/olympic_equestrian_a |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=mynews13.com |language=en}}</ref>
The felony HIV-related charge was again dropped against Chiacchia in February 2017. The prosecution in Marion County entered a nolle prosequi.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170220015738/http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/florida-drops-darren-chiacchia-felony-case/ Florida Drops Darren Chiacchia Felony Case]}}</ref>
Chiacchia owns and operates Independence Farm, full-service breeding, training, and sales barn located in Western New York. He volunteers his expertise as the Chair of the USEA's Events Rating Task Force.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
==Major Accomplishments== * 2004 U.S. Olympic team member * 2003 Pan American Games individual gold medal champion (Windfall II) * 2002 World Equestrian Games U.S. team member * 2000 U.S. Olympic equestrian team traveling alternate * 2007 Pan American Games U.S. Equestrian representative
==Horses==
===Windfall 2=== (1992, Trakehner Stallion; owned by Tim Holekamp) Chiacchia and Windfall 2 had their best season ever in 2003 when they won the Individual Gold medal in the Pan American Eventing title at Fair Hill.
===Better I Do It === (14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Billion out of Concitia; Owned by Adrienne Iorio) Represented the U.S. at the 1995 Open European Championships in Italy with Fascination Street after a third place-finish in the CCI*** at Rolex Kentucky.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{sports links}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chiacchia, Darren}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:American male equestrians Category:American gay sportsmen Category:LGBTQ equestrians Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Buffalo, New York Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state) Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Equestrians at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:Equestrians at the 2007 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen