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Saint Lucia's speed queen Julien Alfred named only two sprint legends as her biggest inspirations growing up.
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred opened up on her biggest inspirations while growing up and plans to end the season on a high ahead of the Brussels Diamond League (September 13 - 14).
The 23-year-old rose to the pinnacle of women's sprint when she blazed to Saint Lucia's first Olympic gold medallist in Paris running a new personal best of 10.72s, thus stunning pre-championship favourite Sha'Carri Richardson to the groundbreaking victory.
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Alfred also added the 200m silver medal behind Gabby Thomas to end her Olympic debut as one of the star track performers at the Games.
Following her historic feat, the Saint Lucian government has declared September 27 as a national holiday that'll be called the 'Julien Alfred Day' and on September 24, there are plans for both a motorcade parade and a mural of herself outside her primary school.
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14:11 - 10.09.2024
Saint Lucia: Julien Alfred joins Sha'Carri Richardson in a prestigious league of national honours
Saint Lucia honoured Julien Alfred following her historic Olympic achievement in Paris.
However, before she flies back home, Alfred has an unfinished business in Brussels, where she has a final battle of the season against Richardson, who got the better of her in their first race post-Olympics at the Zurich Diamond League.
Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, the talented speedster took time to reflect on her iconic season, growing-up days, achievements, and the biggest inspirations in her career.
“When I was 14, I moved from Saint Lucia to Jamaica,” she said. “I left my mum and siblings behind. My dad died when I was 12. My mum had put a note in my suitcase that read ‘Follow your dream’.
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12:00 - 10.09.2024
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“I’ve always wanted to be Usain Bolt, ever since I was little. He was more than my idol. It’s incredible what he has achieved in his career. Unfortunately, I have never met him. I also look up to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce very much.”
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Speaking on her loss to Richardson in Zurich and plans to get it right in Brussels, Alfred said she's focused on herself and wants to end the season on a high.
“I don’t want to use the word revenge,” she said. “I never run against anyone, I do it for myself and just want to finish the season in style. For the same reason, I’m not focused on times either.”
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