David "Dave" Hughes (born January 22, 1978 in Ithaca, NY) - US Olympian, World champion, national champion, and professional sailor.

Hughes was a member of the 2016 and 2012 US Olympic Teams.

^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} He is best known for his accomplishments on the Olympic sailing circuit as both an athlete and coach. Hughes was a US Olympic Team coach at the 2012 London Olympics, coaching Erik Storck and Trevor Moore in the 49er class. David is a 2x National champion and 3x North American champion in the 470 class. He has won 5x World Cup Gold Medals and 2x European Championship medals. Notable highlights include recent Gold Medals at the 2017, 2016, and 2013 Sailing World Cup Miami, 2015 Europeans Championships, 2015 Sailing World Cup Weymouth, as well as multiple medals in other Olympic and non-Olympic events, including winning the 2016 Melges 24 World Championship ^[6] and 2017 Etchells World Championship. ^[7] He burst onto the Olympic scene with a win at the 2005 Kiel Week Regatta with Michael Anderson-Mitterling. After the 2012 Olympics, Hughes partnered with two-time Olympian Stuart McNay. The two qualified together for the 2016 Olympic Games, representing the US in the Men's 470 two-person discipline. Hughes has been three-times nominated for US Yachtsman of the Year. He is a dual citizen of the US and France. He holds both Batchelor's and master's degrees; he was a US Senate, US House, and White House West Wing intern during years 1996-1998. Hughes currently lives in Miami, FL.

David Hughes was born on January 22, 1978 in Ithaca, New York, but was raised in Maine and Miami, Florida primarily. He graduated from Carondelet High School and later went on to attend the University of Southern Maine and University of Wales. He was selected as a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. In 2016 he was chosen to represent the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for Sailing. ^{[0] [4] [5]}

In 2007 he finished second at the Olympic Trials, falling short to make the team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Later in 2012 he served as one of nine coaches for the 2012 Summer Olympics and finally made the team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was a favorite entering the Olympics for the 470, but ended up finishing 4th. ^{[0] [4] [5]}

After growing up in Maine, Florida, and California he began sailing at the age of 13.

He went on to the University of Southern Maine to study American Government and later International Relations while at the University of Wales. During his academic career he was selected as a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. Additionally, he interned at the United States Senate (1996), United States House of Representatives (1997) and White House - West Wing (1997-98). ^{[4] [0]}