T&T table tennis player Dexter St Louis passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 51 after a short illness in Bordeaux, France, surrounded by his wife, Jeromaine and two daughters, Rheann (Chung) and Axelle.
His career for T&T spanned 36 years. He first represented the country in the sport in 1983 at the age of 15. In the early 1990’s, after winning a tournament in Martinique, he received his first full professional contract to play with a club in France, where he would end up residing.
Former T&T sprinter Ato Boldon wrote on Facebook, "RIP to one of Trinidad and Tobago’s finest soldiers in sport, Dexter St. Louis."
His lawyer, Matthew Gayle, release the following statement:
On behalf of the family of Dexter St. Louis, it is with great regret and sadness that we announce the death of Trinidad and Tobago’s most indomitable table tennis champion and two-time Olympic qualifier, Dexter St. Louis.
Born 21stMarch 1968, Dexter first represented Trinidad and Tobago in Table Tennis in 1983, at the age of 15. In the early 1990’s after defeating France based players and winning the tournament in Martinique he received his first full professional contract to play with a club in France. Dexter continued to represent his country proudly, most recently at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. Dexter notably qualified for the 1996 Atlanta, and 2008 Beijing, Olympics, the only Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis player to ever qualify for the Olympics.
Dexter will be remembered for his relentless work ethic, sense of humour and passion for justice, as well as for his honesty, fair-play and his open and transparent approach to sport and to life.
Dexter died after a short illness on the evening of Thursday 16thMay 2019 in Bordeaux, France, surrounded by his wife, Jeromaine and two daughters, Rheann (Chung) and Axelle. He will be dearly missed.
The family welcomes prayers at this time, but ask that in this difficult time they be allowed to grieve in private.
