Isoup Ganthy
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Cambodian |
| Born | 12 November 1929 Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
| Died | 6 December 1976 (aged 47) Phnom Penh, Kampuchea |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Equestrian |
Isoup Ganthy (12 November 1929 – 6 December 1976) was a Cambodian equestrian and diplomat. Born to an Indian-Cambodian family, he later joined the Cambodian National Police and began horseback riding. He then studied in France, and further learned the sport. At the 1956 Summer Olympics, he competed as part of the first Cambodian team at a games, doing so in the individual show jumping event. He did not medal.
After the games, he became involved in politics as a diplomat. He represented the Norodom Sihanouk-led GRUNK government-in-exile during the 1970s and seized the country's embassy in Prague, Czechoslovakia, alongside Cambodian students. He later served as ambassador to Albania and then Sweden. He was arrested by the Khmer Rouge in September 1976 and was sent to Tuol Sleng prison, forcing him to confess treason. He later died in the prison.
Early life and sporting career
[edit]Isoup Ganthy was born on 12 November 1929 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to an Indian-Cambodian family. Later on, he joined the Cambodian National Police and began horseback riding. He then spent several years in France for his studies, further learning and refining his technique in the sport.[1]
He was later invited to be part of the first Cambodian team at an Olympic Games, doing so at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2] Though, the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, Sweden, due to Australian quarantine regulations on horses at the time.[3] Alongside his teammate Saing Pen, they competed in the individual show jumping event on 17 June. Ganthy rode on Flatteur II and did not finish the first round, thus eliminating him from the event. He did not medal.[4]
Diplomacy years, arrest, and death
[edit]Upon returning back to Cambodia after his studies, he was involved in politics. He worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as a diplomat. He represented the Norodom Sihanouk-led GRUNK government-in-exile during the 1970s.[1] Shortly after the 1970 Cambodian coup d'état, he and a group of Cambodian students seized the country's embassy in Prague, Czechoslovakia from ambassador Measketh Cairmorom and three other diplomats of Lon Nol's Khmer Republic government, which had established de facto control over Cambodia.[5][6]
Ghanthy later served as ambassador to Albania and then Sweden.[7] He was later arrested by the Khmer Rouge in September 1976 as they had suspected Ganthy of assisting the KGB to overthrow the country. He was sent to the Tuol Sleng prison and forced him to confess treason, and later died[a] on 6 December 1976.[1]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Isoup Ganthy". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "Cambodia Overview". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Equestrian at the Olympics: 1948-1956". International Federation for Equestrian Sports. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Individual, Open". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ "Pro‐Sihanouk Cambodians Seize Embassy in Prague". The New York Times. Reuters. 11 August 1970. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Sihanouk claims supporters seize Prague embassy". The Star-Ledger. United Press International. 17 August 1970. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vachon, Michelle (1 January 2004). "Preserving History". The Cambodia Daily. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
