By: Nana Kwame Bediako
Julien Alfred has etched her name into the annals of history by becoming the first athlete from Saint Lucia to win not one but two medals at an Olympic event.
Prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Saint Lucia had never secured a medal in the history of the Olympic Games.
Alfred’s phenomenal performance in the 100-meter race earned her a gold medal, setting the stage for her continued success. She followed up this triumph with a silver medal in the final of the women’s 200m at the Stade de France on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024.
The women’s 100m race at the 2024 Paris Olympics was a memorable event, with Alfred clocking an astonishing 10.72 seconds despite racing in driving rain. This time not only secured her the gold medal but also set a new national record for Saint Lucia. Alfred’s victory was even more impressive given the competition; she outran world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and her American teammate Melissa Jefferson to stand at the top of the podium.
Continuing her stellar form, Alfred competed in the women’s 200m final, clocking a time of 22.08 seconds. This effort earned her a silver medal, just behind Gabrielle Thomas from the United States. With these performances, Alfred has not only brought glory to her nation but also set new benchmarks for future athletes from Saint Lucia.
Before her Olympic heroics, Alfred had already shown promise on the international stage. She won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and steadily improved throughout the subsequent seasons. In June of 2024, she set a new personal best of 10.78 seconds, signalling her readiness for the big stage in Paris.
Julien Alfred’s journey began in Saint Lucia, but her talents were honed in the United States, where she ran for the Texas Longhorns from 2018 to 2023. During her college career, she was an 11-time USTFCCCA All-America selection and was named the 2022-23 Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year after her final NCAA championships.
Alfred’s achievements have not only brought pride to her home country but have also inspired a new generation of athletes to dream big and aim high.
