RA
Ray Armstead

Photo: KEN HACKMAN—Public domain

Ray Armstead

USAUSAMen
Birth dateMay 27, 1960
BirthplaceSt. Louis, United States
Height1.87 m
Weight76 kg

Ray Ricky Armstead (born May 27, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American former track athlete who specialized in the 400 meters.

He was a 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the men's 4 × 400 meter relay. In the 1985 IAAF Grand Prix season, he won the 400 m in Rieti (time 45.24s) and West Berlin (45.36s) and came second in the final in Rome (45.24s).

In 1989 he contested the US Trials in Baton Rouge for 1989 the World Indoor Championships. As of 2020, he was an elementary-school art teacher in the Hazelwood School District.

Key facts
400 m
44.83
#289 all-time
500 Metres Short Track
1:01.68
1988 season best
45.29
Jul 17, 1988 · Indianapolis, IN (USA)
1988 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 1 gold
Age
66 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 400 m 44.83 (#289 all-time), 500 Metres Short Track 1:01.68, 1988 season best 45.29 (Jul 17, 1988, Indianapolis, IN (USA)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 66 years old

PB

Personal bests

44.83
#289 all-time
2:57.91
33.34
1:01.68
1:01.68
🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games1--1

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
1988
400m
45.29-Jul 17, 1988
↑
Indianapolis, IN (USA)
1988
500m-short-track
1:01.68-Feb 26, 1988-USA Indoor Championships
1988
500Metres
1:01.68-Feb 26, 1988-New York, NY (USA) (i)
1987
300m
33.34-Jul 20, 1987-Belfast (GBR)
1987
400m
45.58-Jun 26, 1987
↑
San José (USA)
1986
400m
44.98-Aug 13, 1986
↑
Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)
1985
400m
44.91-Jun 8, 1985
↑
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1985
4x400m
3:00.71-Oct 6, 1985
↓
Bruce Stadium, Canberra (AUS)
1984
400m
44.83-Aug 22, 1984
↑
Zürich (SUI)
1984
4x400m
2:57.91-Aug 11, 1984
↓
Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1982
400m
46.13-May 29, 1982
↑
Sacramento, CA (USA)

1988

10 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
400m
45.78-Jul 18Indianapolis US Olympic Trials, Indianapolis, IN
400m
45.29-Jul 17Indianapolis US Olympic Trials, Indianapolis, IN
400m
45.62-Jun 17Tampa TAC Championships, Tampa, FL
400m
45.64-Jun 11Tucson, AZ
400m
45.62-May 21Houston, TX
400m
46.46-May 7Modesto, CA
400m
45.47-Apr 24Walnut, CA
400m
46.39-Apr 9Cape Girardeau, MO
500m-short-track
1:01.68-Feb 26USA Indoor Championships
500m-short-track
1:02.64-Feb 26USA Indoor Championships

1987

15 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
400m
46.15-Jul 26Gateshead
400m
46.30-Jul 22Roma Golden Gala, Roma
300m
33.34-Jul 20Belfast
400m
46.54-Jul 17Birmingham
400m
45.80-Jul 11Formia
400m
45.95-Jul 9Caorle
400m
47.06-Jul 6Budapest Grand Prix, Budapest
400m
45.58-Jun 26San José TAC Championships, San José
400m
45.95-Jun 25San José TAC Championships, San José
400m
46.45-Jun 14Indianapolis, IN
400m
46.22-May 30San José
400m
47.09-May 9Modesto, CA
400m
46.75-Apr 22Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA
400m
47.29-Jan 24Perth
400m
47.43-Jan 22Perth

1986

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
400m
45.36-Sep 7Rieti
400m
45.20-Aug 15Berlin ISTAF, Berlin
400m
44.98-Aug 13Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich

1985

8 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
4x400m
3:00.71-Oct 6Canberra IAAF World Cup, Bruce Stadium, Canberra
400m
44.93-Oct 2Canberra
400m
45.24-Sep 7Roma Golden Gala
400m
45.24-Sep 4Rieti
400m
45.07-Aug 25Köln
400m
45.58-Jul 10Athletissima Lausanne, Lausanne
400m
46.20-Jul 2Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
400m
44.91-Jun 8Los Angeles, CA

1984

14 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
400m
45.58-Aug 31Roma Golden Gala, Roma
400m
45.03-Aug 29Koblenz
400m
45.37-Aug 26Köln
400m
44.83-Aug 22Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
4x400m
2:57.91-Aug 11The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
4x400m
3:01.44-Aug 10The XXIII Olympic Games, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
400m
45.88-Jul 25Walnut, CA
400m
45.25-Jun 21Los Angeles US Olympic Trials, Los Angeles, CA
400m
45.10-Jun 19Los Angeles US Olympic Trials, Los Angeles, CA
400m
45.57-Jun 18Los Angeles US Olympic Trials, Los Angeles, CA
400m
45.59-Jun 17Los Angeles US Olympic Trials, Los Angeles, CA
400m
46.31-May 31Eugene NCAA Championships, Eugene, OR
400m
45.54-May 26Cape Girardeau, MO
400m
46.21-May 24Cape Girardeau, MO
Showing 1 - 50 of 51

Honours

🥇

Canberra IAAF World Cup

4x400 Metres Relay

1985
🥈

Roma Golden Gala

400 Metres

1985
🥇

The XXIII Olympic Games

4x400 Metres Relay

1984
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Ray Armstead's 400 m personal best?

Ray Armstead's 400 m personal best is 44.83, set on Aug 22, 1984 in Zürich (SUI), #289 on the all-time list.

Which events does Ray Armstead compete in?

Ray Armstead competes in the 400 m and 500 Metres Short Track.

How did Ray Armstead perform in 1988?

1988 season best: 45.29, set on Jul 17, 1988 in Indianapolis, IN (USA).

How many medals has Ray Armstead won?

Ray Armstead has won 1 Olympic Games medal.