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Julien Alfred stunned the likes of Sha'Carri Richardson to claim gold in the 100m race at the Paris Olympics, but she is still yet to fully soak into the fact she won four months later.
Julien Alfred, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, is still coming to terms with her historic triumph at the Paris Summer Games in August. The 23-year-old sprinter delivered a stunning performance, clocking a national record of 10.72 seconds to secure St. Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal—a gold that cemented her legacy on the global stage.
Alfred’s victory at Stade de France was nothing short of dominant. From the moment the race began, she surged into the lead, maintaining her commanding position to cross the finish line well ahead of her rivals. American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson claimed silver with a time of 10.87 seconds, while fellow American Melissa Jefferson took bronze in 10.92 seconds.
For St. Lucia, a Caribbean island with a population of under 200,000, Alfred’s win was a watershed moment. Having competed in seven previous Olympic Games without a medal, Alfred’s achievement shattered that drought and made her a symbol of hope and excellence for the nation.
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20:00 - 31.12.2024
Julien Alfred on how her primary school librarian opened the doors for her journey toward Olympic 100m success
Julien Alfred's eventual 100-meter Olympic success journey began when her primary school librarian recommended her to her first ever coach.
The gold medal wasn’t Alfred’s only success at the Paris Olympics. She also clinched silver in the 200m, finishing behind Gabby Thomas. The celebrations in St. Lucia were immense, with the government declaring September 27th as ‘Julien Alfred Day’ to honour their golden girl.
Speaking about her win, Alfred described her emotions after crossing the finish line:“I did not think it would come so fast, especially having won the Olympics. I was really looking forward to going out there just having fun, being myself, and doing what I do best. I wasn’t expecting to win, if I’m being honest, but I’m really grateful for it happening so early.”
In the rain-soaked moments after her victory, Alfred’s jubilation was evident. She sprinted beyond the finish line, tore off her name badge, and displayed it to the roaring crowd—a moment etched in Olympic history.
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12:30 - 01.01.2025
Justin Gatlin eighth, Noah Lyles sixth, Usain Bolt first: How a hypothetical dash between the eight fastest men in history would go
How hypothetical race pitting the eigth fastest men in the history of major championship races -namely Marcell Jacobs, Noah Lyles, Justin Gatlin, Usain Bolt, Kishane Thompson, Christian Coleman, Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake would go.
2023 proved to be a year of milestones for Alfred. She also received the prestigious Bowerman Award, cementing her status as one of the brightest stars in athletics. Reflecting on the honour, she said:“Part of me still cannot believe I won the Bowerman, especially after having such a great year in 2023 with the help of my coach and support team in Texas.”
Her impact extends far beyond the track. Upon her return to St. Lucia, Alfred was named the nation’s tourism ambassador, a role that highlights her influence in promoting her home country on the global stage.
“It has been crazy and overwhelming,” Alfred shared. “Just coming from my tiny island and getting our first Olympic gold medal is still a high. But now I’m back to training, getting ready for 2025 and the World Championships next year, God willing.”
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17:15 - 31.12.2024
'They don't care about intimidation' - Justin Gatlin on how modern sprinters like Noah Lyles & Co differ from his generation
Justin Gatlin has explained how modern sprinters like Noah Lyles are differen from 'intimidating' sprinters of his generation, such as Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.
Since Alfred’s historic achievement, St. Lucia has experienced a ripple effect of success across various fields. The nation’s cricket team captured their first-ever Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title in October, adding to the country’s growing list of accomplishments.
“So many things have gone well in St. Lucia since winning, and it shows how one person can make a big impact on a country—not just in athletics, but academically and even in tourism,” Alfred noted.
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