Dexter St Louis dies at 51; TTOC president pays homage to iconic T&T table tennis player

Iconic Trinidad and Tobago table tennis player Dexter St Louis passed away today in France, where he played professionally in Bordeaux. He was 51.

A release from St Louis’ family, issued through attorney Matthew Gayle, said he died after ‘a short illness’ surrounded by his wife, Jeromaine Chung-St Louis and daughters, Rheann Chung and Axelle. His family welcomed prayers but asked to be allowed to grieve in private.

Photo: Dexter St Louis serves during a table tennis contest with Northern Ireland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games on 6 April.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis said he was stunned by his sudden passing.

“It is shocking news to us; it almost leaves you speechless,” Lewis told Wired868. “Firstly condolences to his wife, stepdaughter, all his colleagues and teammates. Dexter has served his country well with dedication and determination throughout the years.”

Almost certainly, history will remember St Louis as Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest table tennis player of all time. The explosive left-hander is the only player to represent the twin island republic at the Olympic Games in his field—and he did it twice, in 1996 and 2008.

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And, even at the age of 50, he was still worth his place on the world stage. St Louis won two of his four outings at the Goldcoast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which included a triumph over Northern Ireland’s Ashley Robinson who, at 24 years old, was less than half his age.

St Louis first represented Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage at the age of 15 in 1983 and he was 26 when he scooped up his first major accolade by seizing the Caribbean crown. In the process, St Louis ended his country’s 16-year title drought in the competition.

He went on to win the tournament four more times while he snagged his last Trinidad and Tobago singles title in 2016—in what turned out to be his swan-song on local soil.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago table tennis star Dexter St Louis (left) attacks opponent David Mahabir during the 2016 Solo National Championships at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Saith Park, Chaguanas.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Often, St Louis had his stepdaughter, Chung, for company in a father-daughter partnership for the ages. Chung won her first Caribbean title in 2003—ending a barren run of over two decades for T&T table tennis women—and also has five regional trophies to her name.

St Louis and Chung were regular mixed doubles champions at local and regional level while they won one of two matches together at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In recent times, the pair have been as renowned for their wins off the table tennis board as on it. Last year, St Louis and Chung successfully took the local Table Tennis Association to the High Court for unfair selection practices, after both were left off the Commonwealth Games team.

St Louis’ advocacy was not restricted to self-interest, though, and he often commented on issues involving athletes and offered advice to emerging stars. He was a regular commenter on Wired868.


Lewis described the dreadlocked veteran as someone who never shirked from a challenge and displayed great moral consistency.

“He showed his character and resilience on numerous occasions,” said the TTOC president, “and stood up in a number of situations in which he brought to attention numerous issues that required change.

“We have had many conversations over the years—often by e-mail—and it didn’t matter how contentious the issue, he called it as he saw it; and he stood up for what he believed in.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago table tennis star Dexter St Louis celebrates a victory during the 2016 Solo National Championships at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Saith Park, Chaguanas.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

(Statement from St Louis’ family)

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 21st March 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 16th May 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.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago table tennis star Dexter St Louis competes in the 2016 Solo National Championships at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Saith Park, Chaguanas.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
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About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

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78 comments

  1. Condolences to his family and friends rest in eternal peace

  2. The best Trinbago Table Tennis player – RIP

  3. Rest In Peace Dexter St Louis

  4. Alyuh know what is mind bugling, our sports women and men who always struggles in order to get a sponsor or sponsors or even help from the government to represent our sweet country in tournaments the other thing that I will never understand in a million years why the schools that also should all have an alumni organization never steps in to help oh well I am hoping that he himself doesn’t have to die before being honored by our governments or maybe my friend Mr Live Wire have to organize some fund and we the members of wired will always contribute when he makes that call because I know for a fact that many of us are well of or can make a call to the friends who have their own businesses especially if they use to play the same sports or other sports and really understand their cries for help and I am hoping when Mr Live Wire finally receives his monies from the both cases he will also contribute plenty monies lol ….. Them really good yes

  5. Dexter left his mark in the arsenal of our history,Dedication and Principle. A battle well fought!

  6. Just imagine that some of our icons sometimes have to be honored by our governments when they kicks the bucket RIP…..Them really good yes

  7. What????? No way!!! Omg…what a sad sad piece of news. Rest in peace. My fave sport in high school. Rest in peace

  8. What was the exact cause of his death?

  9. RIP Dexter. Condolences to Rheann, Axelle and Jeromaine.

  10. My brother knew him and his wife well. Such an early exit for him. Dexter didn’t get to finish his set.

  11. Eternal Rest In Perpetual Peace Bro

  12. Wow ! Unbelievable Shocker ! Was he ill ?

  13. R.I.P Dexter, it was an honor knowing you in school.

  14. Although table tennis is not one of the major sporting disciplines…St Louis distinguished himself as a dedicated son of the soil and a flagbear for the sport of table tennis…I hope he is given the proper recognition…R.I.P…

  15. Condolences to his family, friends, the table tennis fraternity and all who knew him. May he Rest in Peace.

  16. This is very shocking news. My condolences to Rheann J Chung and the famuly. May his soul rest in power

  17. Ummmm Lasana, Champion and mentor to the end. Sleep in peace. Whoa…..having some serious flashbacks.

  18. Condolences to all.. a True Champion…

  19. May God bless his family at this time

  20. What a shocker!! Wow! Great guy, I always appreciated his candor. He served TT very well. Thank you Dexter. Walk good and RIP!

  21. RIP Dexter…. Great table tennis player

  22. Just two years ago we did an interview with him. Rip bro

  23. Shocking news. Rest in perfect peace. His name will always be associated with table tennis

  24. R.I.P. Condolences to the family

  25. R.i.p condolences to the family

  26. I first played in some school trials with him…all those years ago…RIP star!

  27. RIP Dexter. He and I were on several national teams together. CAC and PANAM games.

  28. i don’t believe it…. 😮

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