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St Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred dedicates her Olympic 100m gold in Paris to her late father, embodying determination and tribute.
When Julien Alfred crossed the finish line on that rainy Paris night, she not only claimed the first Olympic gold medal for St. Lucia but also fulfilled a promise to her late father.
At 23 years old, Alfred achieved what seemed impossible for many from her small island nation. Her victory in the women's 100m final was not just a win against her competitors but a tribute to her biggest believer.
“The next Usain Bolt,” Alfred once ambitiously claimed she would be when she was just a young girl dreaming big in St. Lucia.
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08:41 - 04.08.2024
Paris Olympics 2024: The prize money that awaits Julien Alfred for top finish in women's 100m race
World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, is awarding prize money for gold medalists in Paris.
And on the world's grandest stage, she lived up to that bold ambition, overtaking USA's sprint sensation Sha'Carri Richardson with a breathtaking sprint that ended in a time of 10.72 seconds—making her the eighth fastest woman in history.
Alfred's celebration mirrored that of her idol, Usain Bolt, whose races she watched for inspiration the morning of her Olympic final.
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22:49 - 03.08.2024
Paris Olympics 2024: Julien Alfred shakes off competition from Sha'Carri Richardson to win women's 100m title
Julien Alfred was off to a great start in the blocks and powered through to the finish line, taking the win in a national record time of 10.72.
After her victory, she did not just bask in her triumph; she ripped off her bib and proudly held up her name, then rang the celebratory bell, an homage to Bolt.
“You don’t ever see me celebrate like that ever,” Alfred said, reflecting on her unprecedented display of joy.
“I’m just happy it happened in the biggest race of my career.”
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00:30 - 04.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: United States of America leave with bitter tastes on Day 3 of Track and Field action
Britain and Canada also feel the pain as sprinting duo suffer devastating fates.
However, amid the euphoria, Alfred's thoughts were with her late father, who passed away in 2013.
He had always believed she could reach the Olympic stage, although he did not live to see her achieve this milestone.
“He passed away in 2013, and now he couldn’t get to see me on the biggest stage of my career,” she expressed with a mix of joy and sadness.
“But he’ll always be so boastful of his daughter being an Olympian.”
00:30 - 04.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: United States of America leave with bitter tastes on Day 3 of Track and Field action
Britain and Canada also feel the pain as sprinting duo suffer devastating fates.
Her father's belief was a guiding force in her journey, pushing her to transcend the limited facilities and opportunities in St. Lucia.
Sha'Carri Richardson, who finished second, and Melissa Jefferson, who took bronze, were formidable opponents, but Alfred's night was about more than just medals.
It was about proving to herself and to her country that no dream was too big and no stage too grand.
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