Introduction of Betsy Gelenitis Alsion, presented by Sam Altreuter, co-captain of the 1976 national champion dinghy sailing team that was inducted into the Tufts Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019

A portion of an online bio about our next Hall of Fame inductee reads as follows:

"In 1977, Betsy Alison found herself at Tufts University, which just happened to have the best sailing team in the country at the time. When her father died during her freshman year, a friend persuaded her to go sailing on Upper Mystic Lake. For the first time, Alison realized her natural aptitude for the sport."

We don’t know who that friend was who encouraged Betsy Gelenitis Alison to sail at Tufts, but Tufts should find that person and induct them into the Tufts Hall of Fame, too!! As you will soon hear, that bit of friendly encouragement had a profound impact not only on sailing at Tufts, but on the sport of sailing worldwide for decades to come.

Sailing at Tufts first for Coach Joe Duplin and then for Kenny Legler, Betsy quickly became a standout collegiate skipper in both single- and double-handing. A respected team leader, Betsy was a three-year captain of the Tufts sailing team, and she led the Jumbos to an impressive national runner-up finish at the 1981 College Dinghy Nationals. That year, she was named to the Honorable Mention All-America Team.

As impressive as Betsy’s sailing accomplishments were at Tufts, she was really just getting warmed up. In 1985, Betsy won the Rolex International Women's Keelboat for her first world championship. And in the years that followed, Betsy won that Rolex International Championship FOUR MORE TIMES for a total of five Rolex championships. 

Betsy was a versatile sailor and a multi-discipline world champion, and in 2003, her victory in the Open Yngling World Championship held in Germany marked the first time an all-women's crew won that prestigious regatta.

It is truly astounding what Betsy was able to accomplish as a sailor, and the sailing world agreed. In recognition of her incredible achievements, she was named the Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year honoree…FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES!! 

Betsy also had a significant impact on the sport of sailing through coaching. Betsy was asked to serve as the Head Paralympic Sailing Coach for the USA, and during a two-decade run in that role, she guided US sailors to multiple Paralympic medals. She has also served as the Chair of the Para World Sailing Committee and as the Director of Adult Education Programs for US Sailing. And in 2009, she received the Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy to recognize her tremendously impactful work with adaptive sailing and sailors with disabilities.

And even with all of that, one of Betsy’s greatest victories as a sailor was yet to come…

In 2022, Betsy was diagnosed with cancer, and after having a large tumor removed, her doctors said her chances of walking again were extremely low. But her doctors clearly did not know who they were dealing with. Betsy was determined to get back on the water, and while still in a wheelchair, she entered the World Championship for disabled sailors in the Netherlands. For most, simply participating in this regatta would have been a big accomplishment…but not for Betsy. She was there to compete, and after falling behind early in the race, Betsy came roaring back to win the World Championship! 

This win was the NINTH World Championship of Betsy’s illustrious sailing career, and she did it some 40 years after the first.

The achievement was no surprise to Coach Legler, who said, "Betsy was the strongest and most determined and driven athlete I have ever had the privilege of coaching."

Betsy Alison is truly a pioneer in the sport of sailing, and in 2011, Betsy was the only female inductee in the inaugural class of the US Sailing Hall of Fame.

And tonight, Tufts gets its turn to celebrate Betsy as she enters our Hall of Fame. 

Please help me welcome the amazing Betsy Gelenitis Alison!