'I'm getting better for the 200m'- Julien Alfred declares war on her 'weaker event' & rivals Gabby Thomas, Shericka Jackson

Julien Alfred declares war on her 'weaker event' & rivals Gabby Thomas, Shericka Jackson

'I'm getting better for the 200m'- Julien Alfred declares war on her 'weaker event' & rivals Gabby Thomas, Shericka Jackson

Abigael Wafula 21:18 - 04.04.2025

Julien Alfred is turning her so-called 'weaker event' into her next big challenge as she sets her sights on toppling 200m rivals Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson.

Reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred is working towards perfecting her craft in the 200m, sounding warning shots at Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson.

As things stand, Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson are the dominant forces in the 200m but Julien Alfred wants to take the top spot and change her mentality towards the half lap race.

Speaking about her major season plans, Julien Alfred revealed that she has changed her training approach to perfect her skill in the 200m.

Alfred pointed out that she has a poor mentality towards the distance and she struggles to consider it as one of her core events but this season, that will change.

“I’m really just having fun to be honest, the practice approach is much different especially when it comes to the longer workouts. Now, I’m getting better for the 200m because in my head it’s my weaker event,” Julien Alfred revealed in an interview with Katelyn Hutchison.

“So, I’m just trying to get stronger for it. It’s my mentality towards it and I’m really enjoying track and field now and see what I can do. I’m applying different things that I can and see if I can get better.”

Julien Alfred on why she lost the 200m to Gabby Thomas at Paris Olympics

Julien Alfred on why she lost the 200m to Gabby Thomas at Paris Olympics
Julien Alfred on why she lost the 200m to Gabby Thomas at Paris Olympics

Julien Alfred was a favourite to win the 200m at the Olympic Games, especially after winning the 100m but she fell short, settling for silver behind Gabby Thomas.

The Saint Lucian sprinter explained that she did not trust herself enough to execute the race the way she wanted and notably regretted her decision at the time.

Alfred added that she was also fatigued from the 100m since she never got ample time to recover and get ready for the 200m.

"I think fatigue and overthinking played a huge part. Going into the final, it was one of the last races, and it was like, 'Let's just get it over with,'" Julien Alfred confessed.

"I was really tired. Even after the 100, I was so exhausted that I went to bed late and only got about two hours of rest. I drank some coffee, barely warmed up, and my coach was like, 'Let's just qualify for the next round and keep moving.'

"The mentality I had going into the 200 wasn't the same. I was overthinking each phase, and a lot was happening."

In a season where mindset is proving just as crucial as muscle, Julien Alfred is determined to rewrite her 200m story, this time with confidence, clarity, and a clear target on the top spot as she fires a warning to Gabby Thomas and Shericka Jackson.

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