Nelson Vails

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameNelson Beasley•Vails
Used nameNelson•Vails
Nick/petnamesThe Cheetah
Born13 October 1960 in New York, New York (USA)
Measurements175 cm / 79 kg
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Nelson Vails learned his bicycle skills as a bike messenger on the streets of New York. He eventually became a top track sprinter, winning the gold medal in sprint at the 1983 Pan American Games. Vails won national titles in sprint in 1984 and tandem sprint in 1984-86. He was a tandem sprint silver medalist at the 1985 World Championships. In the 1980s and 1990s Vails competed professionally in Europe in 6-day races and in Japan in keirin. In 1986 a movie starring Kevin Bacon, “Quicksilver,” was made about New York City bicycle messengers, ostensibly inspired by Vails’ story. Vails was the first African-American to win an Olympic cycling medal. In 2009 he was inducted into the US Bicycle Hall of Fame.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Summer Olympics Cycling Track (Cycling) USA Nelson Vails
Sprint, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes