Richard Louis

Barbadian sprinter Richard Louis had an impressive start to his career, winning multiple medals at international youth and junior meets. Louis won his first medal as a youth athlete at the 1979 CARIFTA Games in Kingston with bronze in the 400 metres. One year later he was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding athlete at the 1980 CARIFTA Games when he won gold in both the 200 and 400 metres, along with silver in the 100 metres. Moving up from the youth category to the juniors at the Games, he had further success in the 400 metres, winning gold in 1981, followed by silver in 1983.

These performances earned Louis a place on the Barbados Olympic team for the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Although he had a disappointing 400 metres, failing to advance from the heats, he did reach the final of the 4 × 400 metres relay, with the Barbadian quartet finishing sixth. Four years later he returned to the Olympics for the Games in Seoul, once again running in the 400 metres and the 4 × 400 metres relay, reaching the semi-finals of the latter.

After his athletics career Louis studied in the United States, playing cricket whilst at college. As a medium-fast bowler he was eventually selected to represent the United States cricket team at the 1998–99 Red Stripe Bowl, a regional tournament run by the West Indies Cricket Board. Louis played in three matches, all of which had List A status, with him taking the wicket of former West Indian Test cricketer Stuart Williams in his first game. Sadly for Louis that turned out to be his only wicket of his brief international career. He later worked in New York as a child protection caseworker.

Personal Best: 400 – 46.2 (1982).