Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred on the two biggest challenges she has faced in her career

Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred on the two biggest challenges she has faced in her career

Evans Ousuru 20:00 - 13.11.2024

Julien Alfred reveals the two biggest challenge she has faced in her career so far.

Julien Alfred has disclosed the lowest moment in her career and the hardships she has already experienced despite her relatively tender age.

The Paris Olympics 100m champion presumed that while she is still reveling at her historic win in the French capital, her heart continues to bleed after the demise of her father 11 years ago.

Leaving her family at a young age to go and train in Jamaica in the hope of one day making a name for herself, was the toughest decision but losing a parent made the three-time individual NCAA Division I champion take a break from the track momentarily.

"The sacrifice to leave my family at a tender age, the age of 14, to just chase my dreams, it was definitely a tough decision for me,” the 2022 Commonwealth Games 100m silver medalist explained to Olympics.com.

Distance was only one of the hardships an up-and-coming Alfred had to deal with as she began her journey to the highest echelons of sprinting.

“Also my dad passing away in 2013,” she replied when asked about the biggest challenge she has faced in her career to date. “I actually stopped track & field during that time, just grieving for him." 

Alfred acknowledged that injuries threatened to curtail her growth but used the setback as a motivation that have propelled and elevated her to her current Olympic champion status. 

"Injuries have definitely affected my journey as well. But I mean, it made me stronger. There have been so many things that I can’t pick one but I think all those challenges that I’ve been through have prepared me for what’s to come in my life.”

Tags: