Elvis Forde

Elvis Forde (born 18 November 1959) is a retired Barbadian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.

Biography

=Early life and career=

Forde was born on November 18, 1959 in Barbados. He married Beverley and they have two children, Chante' and Kevin. Forde owns a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Southern Illinois University (1986) and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from Austin Peay State (1994).{{Cite web |title=Elvis Forde - Head Women's Track & Field Coach - Staff Directory |url=https://owlsports.com/staff-directory/elvis-forde/575 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Temple |language=en}}

He was the flag bearer for his native country at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |author=Staff Report |date=2023-07-14 |title=OVC 75th Anniversary Teams; Racers have had some huge track accomplishments over the years |url=https://www.murrayledger.com/sports/murray_state/ovc-75th-anniversary-teams-racers-have-had-some-huge-track-accomplishments-over-the-years/article_19fc74ea-21d8-11ee-9aa1-bb08a9b142cd.html |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Murray Ledger and Times |language=en}}

He won the bronze medals at the 1985 Central American and Caribbean Championships and the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games, and the gold medal at the 1987 Central American and Caribbean Championships.{{Cite web |title=Elvis FORDE {{!}} Profile {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/barbados/elvis-forde-14177876 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=worldathletics.org}}

At the 1984 Olympic Games he finished sixth in the 4 x 400 metres relay, together with teammates Richard Louis, David Peltier and Clyde Edwards. Their time of 3:01.60 minutes is still the Barbadian record.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/cm99.htm Commonwealth All-Time Lists (Men)] - GBR Athletics Forde also competed in the individual distance at the 1984 Olympics. Here, he achieved his career best time of 45.32 seconds. He also competed at the 1987 World Indoor Championships and the 1988 Olympic Games.

Indoor, he was a two-time winner of the 600-yard dash at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, the last two times the event was held before being converted into the 500 metres.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/men/500m.aspx|title=USA Track & Field - USA Indoor Track & Field Champions|accessdate=17 June 2023}}

He is the former head track and field coach at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and previously Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.https://letsgopeay.com/news/2002/7/30/99792.aspx Forde is now the head men and women's cross-country and women's track & field coach at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.