Richard Weiss

Richard Alfred Weiss (September 18, 1963 – June 25, 1997), known as Rich Weiss, was a West German-born, American slalom kayaker who competed from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. He won a silver medal in the K1 event at the 1993 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Mezzana.

For other people named Richard Weiss, see Richard Weiss (disambiguation).
Richard Weiss
Medal record
Men's canoe slalom
Representing  United States
World Championships
1993 MezzanaK1

Weiss also competed in two Summer Olympics, earning his best finish of sixth in the K1 event in Atlanta in 1996. His finish in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona was mired in controversy when the television replay showed a judge's error cost him a bronze medal.[1]

Weiss was born in Munich, and earned a B.S. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.S. in Hydrogeology from Penn State University, and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He founded and owned an environmental consulting company, Weisswater Associates.[1]

He drowned in a kayaking accident on the White Salmon River in Washington state in 1997. Preparing for a race with a friend, he unsuccessfully attempted to run Big Brother, a Class-V rapid with a 30-foot waterfall.[2] His wife, Rosi, gave birth soon afterwards to a boy whom she named "River".[3] The accidental death of a world-class paddler was the subject of much reflection and soul-searching in the whitewater community.[4] The town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado dedicated a park, with a statue, in his honor.[5]

Bronze Statue of Richard Weiss by Tyler Mark Richardella

World Cup individual podiums
Season Date Venue Position Event
199125 Aug 1991Minden1stK1
1 Sep 1991Wausau2ndK1

See also

List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians

References
  1. John F. Russell, Steamboat Today, Weiss made waves, July 27, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  2. American Whitewater Accident Database, Accident 441, retrieved June 23, 2015.
  3. John Trujillo, The Risks We Take, July 7, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  4. Angus Phillips, The Washington Post, QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER DEATH OF EXPERT PADDLER, July 15, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  5. Jon Libid, Steamboat Today, Forever immortalized, June 10, 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2015.


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