Joe DeLoach

Who is Joe DeLoach?

Joseph Nathaniel DeLoach is a former American sprinter; the 1988 Olympic champion in the 200 m.

Born in Bay City, Texas into a family with 11 sisters and one brother, DeLoach enjoyed running at a young age and desired to become a football player, but later set his mind to sprinting. He trained at the University of Houston, like Carl Lewis before him.

During his career, DeLoach only took part in one Olympiad, the 1988 Summer Olympics. Prior to the US Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, DeLoach had trouble performing well, but when it really mattered, he won the 200 m. The first performance was enough to qualify for the Games. There, he and Lewis were the major favourites. Lewis was looking to repeat his four gold medals from the Los Angeles Olympics. In the final, Lewis seemed heading for the title three-quarters of the way, but DeLoach caught up and finished in the Olympic record time of 19.75. This performance marked the only time Carl Lewis was defeated in an individual Olympic final.

After the Olympics, DeLoach failed to reach his 1988 level again, and after missing the 1992 Summer Olympics due to injury, he retired from sports. He currently lives in Sugar Land, Texas with his wife and three children.