Rusty Wailes

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRichard Donald "Rusty"•Wailes
Used nameRusty•Wailes
Born21 March 1936 in Seattle, Washington (USA)
Died11 October 2002 in Seattle, Washington (USA)
Measurements197 cm / 88 kg
AffiliationsLake Washington RC, Seattle (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Rusty Wailes is one of the few American rowers to have won two gold medals. The first came in 1956 when he rowed on the Yale eight that won the Olympic Games. He graduated from Yale in 1958, but helped their varsity eight to victories in 1957 and 1958 both at the Eastern Sprints and at the Harvard-Yale Regatta. In 1959, rowing for the Lake Washington RC, he teamed up with Ted Nash, John Sayre, and Jay Hall to win a gold medal in the fours without at the Pan American Games. The following year, at the Rome Olympics, Dan Ayrault replaced Hall in the four, but they again won a gold medal.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Rowing USA Rusty Wailes
Eights, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold
1960 Summer Olympics Rowing USA Rusty Wailes
Coxless Fours, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold

Special Notes