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.
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.