Kurt Bausback rowed for the US in several international events between 1983 and 1988. He won gold medals at the Pan American Games, in the coxed four in 1983 and the eight in 1987. Bausback won a silver medal in coxed fours at the 1986 Goodwill Games, and two bronze medals at the World Championships, in the eight in 1985 and the coxed four in 1986. He came from an athletic family, as his father played football and basketball at the University of Nebraska. Bausback rowed at San Diego State University and later for the Penn AC. His children, Natalie and Luke, both played college volleyball, Natalie at the University of Virginia and Luke at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.