James Gilkes is a former sprinter from Guyana

Guyana

Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...

 who specialised in the 200 metres

200 metres

A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...

.

He was 1975 Pan American

Athletics at the 1975 Pan American Games

The Athletics Competition at the 1975 Pan American Games was held in Mexico City, Mexico.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...

 200 metre champion, and in 1979

Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games

The Athletics Competition at the 1979 Pan American Games was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...

 he took the silver medal in the same event.

He was runner up to Don Quarrie

Don Quarrie

Donald O'Riley Quarrie C.D is a former Jamaican athlete, one of the world's top sprinters during the 1970s....

 of Jamaica in the 1978 AAA's 200 metres event.

At the 1978 Commonwealth Games

1978 Commonwealth Games

The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...

 in Edmonton he finished fourth in the 100 metre final, then took the silver medal in the 200 metres, finishing behind Allan Wells

Allan Wells

Allan Wipper Wells MBE is a former Scottish athlete, who became Olympic Champion in the 100 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.-Biography:...

 of Scotland.

In 1979 he took 3rd place in the "Golden sprints" in Zurich.

He also went to the 1980 Olympic Games

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

 where he reached the semi-finals of both the 100

Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres

These are the official results of the Men's 100 metres event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held on July 24, 1980 and on July 25, 1980.-Records:...

 and 200 metres

Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres

These are the official results of the Men's 200 metres event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held on July 27, 1980 and on July 28, 1980.-Records:...

 before he was eliminated.

His personal best time for the 200 metres was 20.14 seconds, achieved in September 1978 in Ingelheim.