LaBeach, circa 1950
Lloyd LaBeach
Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing  Panama
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1948 London 100 metres
Bronze medal – third place 1948 London 200 metres
Bolivarian Games
Gold medal – first place 1947/8 Lima 100 metres
Gold medal – first place 1947/8 Lima 200 metres
Gold medal – first place 1947/8 Lima Long jump

Lloyd Barrington LaBeach (28 June 1922 – 19 February 1999) was a Panamanian sprinter, 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 American athletes Harrison Dillard and Barney Ewell for third place, ahead of favorite Mel Patton, also from the United States.[1]

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, 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.[2] After the race, he was described in Time as "Panama's one-man Olympic hope."[2] 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.[3] These 1948 performances made him one of the expected medal contenders against Patton and Ewell in the Olympics.[4] His brother Byron LaBeach, also a sprinter, competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics representing Jamaica.[5]

LaBeach retired from athletics in 1957, and died in New York City, on 19 February 1999, at the age of 76.

Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Panama
1948 Olympics London, England 3rd 100 m 10.6
1948 Olympics London, England 3rd 200 m 21.2

Notes

  1. ^ "Off the Mark". Time. Time Inc. 1948-08-09. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  2. ^ a b "Winning Ways". Time. Time Inc. 1948-06-14. Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  3. ^ "Winning Ways". Time. Time Inc. 1948-05-24. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  4. ^ "Two Minutes to Glory". Time. Time Inc. 1948-08-02. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  5. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Lloyd LaBeach". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2012.


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