Olympics 100m champion Julien Alfred has explained why she will take the Diamond League more seriously this season after being confirmed for the Oslo & Stockholm meetings
Olympics 100m champion Julien Alfred has been confirmed for the Oslo and Stockholm Diamond League meetings in what will be her first meeting in Scandinavia.
Alfred was one of the outstanding athletes of 2024 when she stormed to her first Olympics title in Paris, and a first-ever for her country St Lucia, before adding a silver medal in 200m.
The 23-year-old was also untouchable across the Diamond League in 100m, winning her first title at the season finale in Brussels.
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Heading into the 2025 season, Alfred is looking to defend her World Indoor title but will be looking for a good outing in the outdoor and the Diamond League provides a good opportunity to tune up for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September.
Alfred will not have World Championships trials and is looking to use the Diamond League as he main preparations for the global event with her participation in the Oslo meeting in Norway on June 12 and Stockholm, Sweden three days later, now confirmed.
"Visiting the Scandinavian countries is one of my dreams. I look forward to feeling the hospitality from the Scandinavian spectators and hope to live up to the standard of these two meetings and to give them a memorable performance," said Alfred.
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"The upcoming Diamond League- season is very important because I won’t be having any trials for the World Championships. So, I hope these races put me closer to my goals for Japan," added Alfred, who will be looking for her first world title in Tokyo.
This season’s Diamond League will begin in Xiamen, China on April 26 with the final slated for Zurich, Switzerland from August 27-28.
Alfred will open her season at the New Balance Grand Prix in New York on February 2 ahead of her World Indoor title in defence in Nanjing, China from March 21-23.
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