Nelson Beasley Vails (born October 13, 1960) is a retired road and track cyclist from the United States. He rode as a professional from 1988 to 1995 representing the U.S. at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he became the first African American and first person of African descent to win an Olympic medal in cycling. He won the silver medal in the sprint, behind countryman Mark Gorski. He was inducted to the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame in 2009.
Vails was also seen as a New York bicycle messenger in the film Quicksilver. 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, individual sprint 1984 2nd Olympic Games, sprint 1st US National Track Champion, individual sprint 1st US National Track Champion, tandem sprint 1985 2nd Track World Champion, tandem sprint 1st US National Track Champion, tandem sprint 1986 1st US National Track Champion, tandem sprint
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