The world spoke highly of everything about Julien Alfred when she crossed that finish line in the women’s 100m finals first at the Paris Olympics. She surprised many as she defeated the pre-race favorite Sha’Carri Richardson. However, her journey to the top of the mountain was never easy, as she had her own struggles to battle.

This year, the Saint Lucian runner wanted to start high with the New Balance Grand Prix. But there was a twist to it. Indeed, she wouldn’t have run in the 60m but the 300m. When this got public, there were many questions about the runner’s decision for this distance, but she was dedicated to showcasing her prowess to the world. And you bet she did! Furthermore, she shared her thoughts on her coach’s decision, which was kind of bittersweet.

Why the backlash? Because most people in the track and field world wanted to run in the 60m, as last year she became an indoor champion in that particular distance. But this year, her coach Edrick Floreal wanted her to run in the 300m, and she didn’t disappoint as she clocked a blistering 36.16, way ahead of British athlete Dina Asher-Smith, who clocked a time of 36.87.

Julien Alfred’s reaction to this? “You know, he has a plan. I’m just following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, but I trust him and what he has for me,” said the Saint Lucian runner during the post-race interview with NBC. Indeed, it was her coach’s plan, and it did go in the right direction, as she achieved the Saint Lucian record in the 300m.

For a long time, Alfred has been devoted to her coach. Indeed, both of them began working together in 2019. And what about their growth? The statistics speak for it. The Saint Lucian runner has always credited her coach in various instances. Therefore, Floreal deserves every acknowledgment he’s been getting, as he’s a brilliant one, crafting one of the finest runners out there.

Jumping distances is no straightforward task, but Alfred has managed it. Indeed, throughout the 2024 season, she ran in the 60m, 100m, and 200m when it came to both indoors and outdoors. And these races are quite different from each other. Then when it comes to the 300m, it’s completely a new adventure. But she was glad that she could achieve what she and her coach had planned for her first race of the campaign.

However, how did the other runners do? Alfred came in first with a time of 36.16; Dina Asher-Smith ran 36.87, followed by Emma Montoya’s 38.37 and Bianca Stubler’s 39.33. The difference can be seen when comparing these athletes, and surely, the Saint Lucian runner is on another level, even if it is a 300m indoor race. No wonder her coach saw that potential in her. He was also the reason she had a brilliant 2024 season that she will never forget.

Julien Alfred will never forget the support that she got

Coach Flo and Julien Alfred can never be separated. The moment he saw that spark in her, he wanted to get her to the sport’s elite. And with their mission coming to success at the Stade de France, the Saint Lucian runner went candid, stating, “I have to give thanks to my coach. I think he is my spine and my rock. He has been with me through the highs and the lows. After Worlds last year, I cried on his shoulder so much, and I just want to thank him for this, having my back throughout and the times where I felt like giving up on myself.”

Indeed, she reflected on a heart-wrenching finish in Budapest when she came fourth. However, that particular finish also motivated her to overcome the challenges in her life and bounce back stronger. And the rest was history!

Coming to the Stade de France, while many were rooting for Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100m final, Alfred proved everyone wrong by defeating her American rival. However, dedicating to all of her supporters and her coach, she shared a message, stating, “I really wanted it for myself and also so happy to have such an amazing group around me and most importantly, my coach is everything to me, and I would not be here without him.”

Alfred has seen a lot in her life, but her journey to success showcases what one can achieve when they are determined. The Saint Lucian runner is that person who overcame many challenges in her life to grab that token of success!