Bob Willis
USA - 7

Bob enters his second Olympic campaign with the sailing and windsurfing experience to excel and succeed as an RS:X sailor.  Bob started his sailing career at the Columbia Yacht Club at the age of eight.  He quickly advanced to racing Optimists at the age of nine and has never looked back.  During his later years of Junior Sailing, Bob advanced as one of the top 420 sailors in the nation, with multiple top 5 finishes at national events.  In addition to succeeding in the 420 class, Bob began to take competitive windsurfing very seriously.  Bob began racing in the Formula Class for a new experience, more excitement and a physical challenge. Bob then competed in one European Championship and two world Championships. He not only gained international experience but won two National Junior Championships and placed third at a World Championship.

Bob continued his sailing career while attending Connecticut College, participating as one of the top skippers in the well-recognized varsity program.  After his sophomore fall semester he decided to take a semester off of school to commit all of his time to achieve Olympic participation. Bob qualified for the 2nd ranked spot on the US Sailing Team and competed in the ISAF world Sailing Cup for ten consecutive months.  In October of 2007, Bob placed third at the 2008 Olympic Trails in Long Beach California, winning 4 out of 16 races.  In just ten months of racing in the RS:X class, Bob had established himself as one of the premier RS:X sailors in the nation in addition to the international arena.

Bob received his BA in Economics from Connecticut College in December of 2009 and is devoting the next two years to accomplish his ultimate goal, an Olympic Gold Medal.