calamarichris

Just shook hands with Nelson Vails, silver medalist in the '84 Olympics at Revolution in Solana Beach.
I know everyone says this about every celebrity encounter, but such a friendly guy. He was getting ready to split, and reached for my hand a second time and had an uncommonly serene look in his eyes.
I was a little starstruck and forgot to mention (fortunately perhaps) that I had his poster up on my barracks wall when I was a teenaged PFC in the Army.


I heard a rumor back then that he had 36-inch thighs. To provide a little perspective, I had a 32-inch waist back then.
He made some little remark, like "I'll be on the right." and I chuckled idiotically. But Sam at Revolution said, "He just rolls along at 10mph on PCH, just cruising and enjoying himself."

If I'd accomplished a teenth of what Nelly has done, I might be more comfortable watching chubby wannabe's like me roll past too.

I'm going to have to go back and watch the Kevin Bacon movie "Quicksilver again."

TrojanHorse

Fun story: my wife and son rode the 25 mile ride tour DE palm Springs and rode with nelson for about a mile or so and they said the same thing - nicest guy you could hope to meet on a bike. Marci specifically went to the Olympic track event to watch him, I'm sure he enjoyed hearing that. Great guy.

zzzwillzzz

never heard that rumor, i remember reading scott berryman had 28" thighs. might have been 26" rather than 36"

big john

I heard that the "Cheetah" had to have his dress pants custom made and that he was clocked at 206rpm on the track.

tyler714

That's awesome!! He looks like a beast in that picture.