Louis is a Mexican-American born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He began his swimming career through the Third-Grade Learn-To-Swim Program at the San Antonio Natatorium, which is located "between public housing projects and a state detention center." Louis was the third swimmer to qualify for the Texas high school state swim meet and the first swimmer to swim at the collegiate level from the San Antonio Independent School District, where more than 90% of its students are from "economically disadvantaged" families and less than 15% of its graduates enroll "in four-year universities." He went on to compete at the 1997 Phillips 66 National and 1998 United States Open Championships. Louis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Columbia University, where he was a four year letter winner on the swim team and elected Tri-Captain his senior year. He has retired from NYC Swim events in order to pursue his law degree.