Nelson Vails

Nelson Vails represented the USA at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles California, where he won the Silver Medal in the 1000m Match Sprint. He was the first African American cyclist to medal in the Olympics, making history when he won.

Of the thousands of pedal-pushing messengers in Manhattan, only one of them has become a world-class cyclist. From the projects in Harlem to the Olympic Games and now the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame, Nelson Vails has demonstrated that he has been able to beat the odds and continues to see the world on two wheels.

Cycling Achievements
• Current; CEO and Founder of NelsonVails.com, NV Events & NV Clothing Line
• 2009 Inductee to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame
• 1984 Olympics: Track – Sprint Silver, 1984
• First African-American to win an Olympic Cycling Medal
• 1985 World Championships: Tandem Sprint, Silver
• 1984, 1985, 1986 National Tandem Sprint Champion
• 1984 National Sprint Champion
• 1983 Pan American Games: Gold Medal
• 1980’s and 1990’s competed professionally in the 6-Day circuits in Europe
• 1980’s and 1990’S competed professionally in the Japanese Keirin Events