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Julien Alfred stunned the likes of Sha'Carri Richardson to claim gold in the 100m race.
In a race defined by relentless rain and fierce competition, Julien Alfred of St. Lucia emerged victorious in the Women’s 100m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 23-year-old sprinter stormed to victory with a national record time of 10.72 seconds, securing her country’s first-ever Olympic medal.
Alfred’s performance at Stade de France was commanding from the start. She surged ahead early and maintained her lead, crossing the finish line well ahead of her competitors.
American world champion Sha'Carri Richardson claimed the silver medal with a time of 10.87 seconds, while fellow American Melissa Jefferson took the bronze, clocking 10.92 seconds.
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12:48 - 04.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: Justin Gatlin explains what went wrong for Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m final
Gatlin has revealed what went wrong for Sha'Carri Richardson as she lost to Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred in the final of the 100m race at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.
For St. Lucia, a Caribbean island with a population of fewer than 200,000, Alfred's gold medal represents a historic breakthrough. The nation had participated in seven previous Olympic Games without winning a single medal. Alfred's triumph not only shattered that drought but also etched her name in the annals of Olympic history.
As the rain poured down, Alfred’s jubilation was palpable. After securing her first global outdoor title, she sprinted far beyond the finish line in celebration, before dramatically tearing off her name badge and showing it to the roaring crowd.
Reflecting on her journey to Olympic gold, Alfred attributed her success to a change in strategy that she adopted this year. "This year, I have really been trying to focus on my lane and just working on my execution and not worrying about who is next to me," she explained to the media after the race.
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11:40 - 04.08.2024
Julien Alfred: Who is little-known star that stunned Sha’Carri Richardson to win Olympics gold?
Following her comprehensive defeat of American Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100m at the Paris Olympics, here is everything you need to know about Julien Alfred.
Alfred emphasized that by not focusing on her opponents—who included top-tier athletes like Richardson and the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—she was able to keep her nerves in check and concentrate on her own performance. Fraser-Pryce, a favorite in the race, was unable to compete after being listed as DNS (Did Not Start) due to a reported hamstring injury.
“Sometimes when I do [focus on competitors], I tend to panic, but this year, I think I have had a good strategy. I have just been focusing on my execution only and not those who are next to me. I think this has gone to my favor,” Alfred added.
Alfred’s success also stemmed from a carefully planned season. Unlike the previous year, where she competed in over 50 races, Alfred and her coaching team opted for a more measured approach this time around.
“I didn’t have a long collegiate year this time round. Last year, I ran over 50 races, but I think not having trials and my coach really just being particular in how I race this year has been a huge advantage for me,” she noted.
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16:47 - 30.07.2024
Justin Gatlin jumps to Ferdinand Omanyala's defence over claims he only records fast times in Kenya
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Alfred’s decision to prioritize the Olympics over other competitions, such as the NCAA Championships and World Championships, proved to be a winning formula. "I think the main difference is just how much I raced this year and just preparing for the Olympics instead of training for NCAAs and World Championships. This year was all about Olympics,” she concluded.
Julien Alfred’s gold medal victory not only cements her status as one of the world’s top sprinters but also marks a milestone moment for St. Lucia, as the island nation celebrates its first-ever Olympic champion.
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