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 US at the 1984 Summer Olympics 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, 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 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 References 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