Originally a sailor in the Laser class, Terry Neilson first drew attention on the international scene when he won the class at both the 1979 Pan American Games and that year’s European Championships. He was Canadian Champion from 1978 through 1980, in addition to placing ninth at the 1980 World Championships, before switching to the Finn class and taking the Canadian Championship in 1981. He returned to Laser in 1982 and was crowned World Champion prior to coming back to Finn and placing second at the 1984 World Championships. He was selected to compete for Canada at that year’s Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in the Finn class. The Olympics were arguably the pinnacle of his career, but he continued sailing for many years, including skipping Canada’s challenger for the 1987 America’s Cup, which was eliminated prior to the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup. As of 2013 he remains active in masters’-level tournaments.
Canada