Julien Alfred: Why the Olympic champion is stepping away from the 60m this season

Julien Alfred (L) of Saint Lucia competes during the women s 100m final at the 2024 Diamond League Brussels Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 13, 2024.

Julien Alfred: Why the Olympic champion is stepping away from the 60m this season

Festus Chuma 15:26 - 02.02.2025

Olympic champion Julien Alfred has made a surprising decision to skip the 60m this season focusing on strength and bigger goals ahead.

Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred has stunned the track and field world with her latest career decision.

Just hours before the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Alfred announced that she would not be competing in the 60m this season.

The St Lucia's sprinter revelation is particularly surprising given that she is the reigning World Indoor champion in the event. But her decision is not about stepping back—it is about taking a bold step forward.

“I’m focused on getting stronger right now,” Alfred told reporters in a pre-race press conference.

Alfred is set to race in the 300m event against her training partner British sprint star Dina Asher-Smith.

A decorated sprinter at the NCAA level, she dominated the collegiate circuit with titles in both the 100m and 4x100m at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships, as well as the 60m and 200m crowns at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Her Olympic triumph in Paris 2024 made history, not only for herself but for her homeland of Saint Lucia, as she became the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist.

“I felt loved and supported by my fellow Saint Lucians,” Alfred shared with Olympics.com.

In recognition of her incredible achievement, the government of Saint Lucia declared September 27, 2024, as ‘Julien Alfred Day.’

Despite being in the best shape of her life, Alfred has chosen to forgo the 60m this season, a decision that speaks volumes about her long-term vision.

However, with the 2025 Tokyo World Championships on the horizon, she is prioritizing endurance and strength, which could prove to be game-changers in her bid for another world title.

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