Nelson Beasley Vails (born October 13, 1960) is a retired road and

track cyclist Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using purpose-designed track bicycles. History Track cycling has been around since at least 1870. When track cycling was in its infancy, it ...

from the United States. He rode as a professional from 1988 to 1995 representing the US at the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...

in Los Angeles, California, where he became the first African American and first person of African descent to medal in cycling. He won the silver medal in the

sprint Sprint may refer to: Aerospace *Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design *Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile Automotive and motorcycle *Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989 *Chevrolet Sprint, ...

, behind countryman Mark Gorski. He was inducted to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame in 2009. Vails was also seen as a New York

bicycle messenger Bicycle messengers (also known as bike or cycle couriers) are people who work for courier companies (also known as messenger companies) carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business di ...

in the film ''

Quicksilver Quicksilver may refer to: * Quicksilver (metal), the chemical element mercury Arts and entertainment Music * Quicksilver, a bluegrass band fronted by Doyle Lawson * "Quicksilver" (song), a 1950 hit for Bing Crosby * ''Quicksilver'' (sound ...

''. He didn't just play a bicycle messenger in "Quicksilver," he worked as one in New York City. His nickname was "The Cheetah." After his sporting career he has worked as a cycling commentator for major TV networks and taken part in cycling safety programs. In 2005 Vails was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Velodrome Cycling Hall of Fame.

Palmarès

;1983 : 1st

Pan American Games The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...

, individual sprint ;1984 : 2nd Olympic Games, sprint : 1st MaillotUSA

US National Track Champion, individual sprint : 1st MaillotUSA

US National Track Champion, tandem sprint ;1985 : 2nd Jersey rainbow

Track World Champion, tandem sprint : 1st MaillotUSA

US National Track Champion, tandem sprint ;1986 : 1st MaillotUSA

US National Track Champion, tandem sprint

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vails, Nelson 1960 births Living people Sportspeople from Manhattan People from Harlem American male cyclists African-American people Olympic silver medalists for the United States in cycling Cyclists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Cyclists at the 1983 Pan American Games Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States Pan American Games medalists in cycling Medalists at the 1983 Pan American Games