Fred Borchelt rowed for the United States at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the eights at the Los Angeles Olympics. He first competed internationally at the 1971 and 1972 Junior World Championships in the coxless pairs, but Borchelt later appeared in seven senior World Championships, from 1975-83. He earned three World medals, silver in coxed fours in 1981, and bronzes in 1982 coxed fours and 1979 coxed pairs. Borchelt rowed for Rutgers University, graduating in 1976 with a degree in ceramics engineering. He later rowed for the Potomac Boat Club. Borchelt became a high school science and physics teacher and crew coach near Worcester, Massachusetts.