Class: 49er
Position: Skipper
US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics: 2001-2004, 2006-2008
Member of: Southwestern YC
Education: Torrey Pines High School, Boston University (graduated 1997)
Birthdate: July 23, 1974
Birthplace: Westerly, R.I.
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Occupation: Mechanical engineer/consultant

Significant sailing achievements: 1997 College Sailor of the Year, three-time InterCollegiate Sailing Association All-American, 5th 2004 Olympic Regatta/Athens, Greece (with crew Pete Spaulding)

Biography: Wadlow returns in 2008 for his second Olympic regatta. Onboard his 49er will be new crew Chris Rast. While the recipe of personalities will be different onboard, Wadlow still considers the 2004 Games the foundation of a longer experiment.

"I think your first Olympics is an eye-opening experience," says Wadlow. "Coming back the second time, there are a lot of things I'll do differently for a better finish."

An engineer by training, Wadlow takes an analytical approach to something as mythical as Olympic gold—but that approach is what he considers his edge: "I am a pretty methodical person, so as far as preparation and training goes I take a logical, disciplined approach toward achieving a goal."

For the next Olympic Games, that approach is targeted at the cycle of an Olympian's life: the ability to time training and the talent to peak at the right moment.

"That is one of the big challenges of the whole Olympic cycle," says Wadlow. "I've learned a lot about how to have your equipment, fitness, and preparation and your technique all come together to have the best possible result."

Wadlow and Rast's timing was right for the Trials: they won the 49er berth by 9 points after 24 races.

Recent Results:
2008 5th 49er World Championships/Melbourne, Australia
2007 2nd 49er North American Championships/Miami, 4th US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR/Miami, 13th ISAF Sailing World Championships/Cascais, Portugal