Name Lloyd Beach | Role Olympic athlete | |
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Died February 19, 1999, New York City, New York, United States Olympic medals Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres People also search for Barney Ewell, Mel Patton, Harrison Dillard | ||
Weekly Review No. 390 (1949)
Lloyd Barrington La Beach (June 28, 1922 – February 19, 1999) was a former sprinter from Panama, who won two bronze medals during the 1948 Summer Olympics, the first Olympic medals for Panama and for Central America. He also competed in the long jump.
In the 100 meters, he finished behind Harrison Dillard and Barney Ewell for third place, ahead of favorite Mel Patton.
Born in Panama City, his parents were Jamaican immigrants. While Lloyd was still in school the family relocated to Jamaica, where La Beach first showed his talent in athletics. He later entered the University of California in Los Angeles, where he was coached during his preparations for the Olympic Games.
In 1948, he set the world record in the 200 meters on a cinder track in Compton, California. After the race, he was described in Time as "Panama's one-man Olympic hope." Just a few weeks before La Beach had been involved in a world record setting 100-yard dash, in which he barely lost at the finish line tape to Patton. These 1948 performances made him one of the expected medal contenders against Patton and Ewell in the Olympics. His brother Byron LaBeach, also a sprinter, competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics representing Jamaica.
Lloyd La Beach retired from athletics in 1957, and died in a New York City hospital.