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Julien Alfred finally touched down in Saint Lucia after her Olympic heroics in the Paris 2024 Olympics, sparking reactions.
Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred received a spectacular homecoming as she touched down in Saint Lucia following her historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The sprinter's return has sparked nationwide celebrations and even a touch of envy from international observers.
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13:29 - 14.09.2024
Come visit Saint Lucia: Noah Lyles' mum vacations in beautiful Caribbean country, praises Julien Alfred's birth home
Noah Lyles mum Keisha Caine Bishop is in Saint Lucia due to a promise to Julien Alfred over a year ago and has encouraged everyone to visit the beautiful Caribbean country.
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Alfred wrote her name in the annals of Saint Lucian history by clinching the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the 100m sprint.
Her victory over world champion Sha'Carri Richardson of the United States has catapulted her to national hero status and solidified her position as one of the world's premier female sprinters.
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The 23-year-old's path to glory began in the semifinals, where she clocked an impressive 10.84 seconds, edging out Richardson who finished in 10.89 seconds.
In the final, Alfred delivered a career-defining performance, exploding out of the blocks and maintaining her lead to cross the finish line in a blistering 10.72 seconds (-0.1m/s), setting both a new personal best and a national record.
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Alfred's Olympic success didn't stop at the 100m. She went on to claim silver in the 200m, rounding off a historic outing for Saint Lucia at the global event.
Upon her return on Tuesday afternoon, Alfred was greeted by throngs of ecstatic supporters.
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Video footage shared on social media showed streets lined with cheering crowds, waving flags, and jubilant celebrations as the Olympic champion made her way through the capital.
The scale and fervour of the welcome have drawn attention internationally, particularly from American track and field enthusiasts.
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Comments on social media reflected a mix of admiration and envy, with one user noting, "One thing that sucks about being an American track athlete. You'll never be celebrated like this."
Another observer remarked, "Just look at how her country is celebrating her!", highlighting the stark contrast between the reception of Olympic athletes in smaller nations versus larger countries where such achievements might be more common.
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As the celebrations continue across the island, there are already calls for more lasting forms of recognition for Alfred. Proposals range from naming a stadium in her honor to establishing a national sports development program inspired by her success.
For now, Saint Lucia remains in a state of euphoria, basking in the glory of their new national icon.
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