John Ruf
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | John Federick Ruf March 4, 1968 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Died | July 8, 2026 (aged 58) | ||||||||||||||
| Education | Washington University in St. Louis University of Wisconsin–Madison | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Sailing | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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John Federick Ruf (March 4, 1968 – July 8, 2026) was an American paralympic sailor.[1][2] He competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.[3]
Biography
[edit]Ruf was born with a spinal tumor[4] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Fritz and Sally Ruf.[5] He grew up sailing on Pewaukee Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.[6] He attended Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning his law degree. After earning his degree, he worked as a businessman. With his spinal tumor, in 1999, he had lost his ability to walk.[5]
He competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, winning the bronze medal in the mixed 1-person keelboat 2.4mR event.[3][7] He was named the world champion at the 2009 2.4 Metre World Championship in Fort Myers, Florida.[8]
Ruf died on July 8, 2026, at the age of 58.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Captain of His Destiny: Paralyzed Sailor Finds 'Amazing Freedom' Aboard His Boat". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. February 27, 2008. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Paralyzed sailor sets sights on Paralympics". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. March 2, 2008. p. 27. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Ruf finds path toward medal island". The Freeman. Waukesha, Wisconsin. July 27, 2013. p. B1. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "John Federick Ruf". Cremation Society of Waukesha. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Sailing for the gold". The Oconomowoc Enterprise. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. October 9, 2003. p. 21. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Pewaukee sailor gets bronze". The Freeman. Waukesha, Wisconsin. September 15, 2008. p. B4. Retrieved July 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Eight Bells: John Ruf". United States Sailing Association. July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
External links
[edit]
- 1968 births
- 2026 deaths
- American male sailors (sport)
- Sailors (sport) from Chicago
- Sailors at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
- Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
- Paralympic medalists in sailing
- Paralympic sailors for the United States
- Paralympic bronze medalists for the United States
- 2.4 Metre class world champions
- Disabled sailing world champions
- World champions in sailing for the United States
- Washington University in St. Louis alumni
- University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
- 20th-century American businesspeople