In 1984 Chapman married fellow Australian Olympian Ion Popa. He had rowed for Romania before defecting to Australia in 1978. Ion was a 1986 world champion, a dual Olympian and won bronze in the Australian men's eight at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Their daughter Rosemary Popa (born 1991) is an Australian national champion rower. A dual American-Australian citizen, she has represented both the US and Australia at World Rowing Championships.