Julien Alfred is taking the world by storm! Winning the Olympic gold in the 100m, defying expectations, and becoming the first Olympic medalist from St Lucia, she stepped on a quest to rewrite history. And the Saint Lucian star is not yet done pushing boundaries. Her latest challenge? Venturing into a completely unfamiliar territory!

Julien Alfred is no stranger to making bold moves on the track. From stunning the world with triumphs to becoming the highest-paid female athlete in 2024. But her latest decision might be her most unexpected yet. After shocking fans by running the 300m instead of her usual sprints at the New Balance Grand Prix, Alfred is taking an even bigger leap.

And now another major track and field decision that could redefine her career.

Julien Alfred embraces new challenges as Coach Floreal pushes her beyond sprints

When Alfred arrived at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston on February 2, many expected her to compete in her signature 60m. After all, she was an indoor champion in that event last year. But instead, her coach, Edrick Floreal, had a different vision. He entered her in the 300 m—a race she had never competed in before. The decision shocked many in the track and field community.

Would Alfred, a sprinter known for her explosive starts, be able to hold her own in a longer race? The answer was a resounding yes. Julien Alfred blazed through the 300 m in 36.16 seconds, obliterating the competition. British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith finished second in 36.87. But while the victory was sweet, Alfred admitted that the process wasn’t easy.

“You know, he has a plan. I’m just following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, I trust him and what he has for me,” she said after the race. It was clear that Coach Floreal was pushing her out of her comfort zone. And surprisingly enough, it was working. Now, the challenge is about to get even bigger. Tomorrow, at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, Alfred will make her highly anticipated 400m indoor debut.

Once again, this is not a race she would have chosen on her own. But her coach sees a bigger picture, molding her into an athlete capable of excelling in multiple events. “So most of the indoor will be 300m… 400m indoors. But, you know, I’m just going according to what he has planned for me and God,” she revealed. This shift is not just about endurance.

It’s about changing her mindset and embracing a future where longer distances could play a key role in her career. Coach Floreal’s influence on Alfred has been undeniable. Since they began working together in 2019, he has guided her to national records, Olympic glory, and newfound versatility. Even though she openly admits she’s not a fan of the 200m. Even though she won a silver in Paris.

Coach Floreal has a method to his madness. He wants her to see the bigger picture, to understand that developing endurance and strength in events like the 300m and 400m will ultimately benefit her in shorter sprints. Meanwhile, Julien isn’t the only one stepping into unknown territory.

Her training partner, Dina Asher-Smith, will also run the 400m at the Tiger Paw Invitational, making it a thrilling test for both sprinters. On the other hand, her other teammate, Rhasidat Adeleke, also looks forward to the 600m event for her season opener. This is also going to be her first time in any category over 400m. It seems Julien isn’t the only one trying to push past her limits.

This can all be attributed to the wonderful vision of her coach, Floreal. While her coach is thinking of ways to make her even more lethal, the gold medalist is also accepting all the new challenges coming her way. Despite great discomfort and tireless training, she is paying attention to both short-term and long-term goals. And Floreal is making sure that Alfred doesn’t lose her calm during all this.

Julien Alfred details the coach’s support during tough times 

Being an Olympic gold medalist might sound like a fancy idea. However, the weight of expectations often overwhelms the athlete. And with Julien Alfred, the situation was nothing different. In fact, Alfred is experiencing a deja vu this season. Back in 2024, Alfred secured the first-ever global medal for St. Lucia at the World Indoor Championship after recording an impressive 6.98s victory in the women’s 60m category. However, with the fans hyping up Alfred significantly, she crumbled under pressure. 

I leaned on my support system. My coach, my agent, those around me.”

She further added, “Going to therapy really helped me um, and just realizing you know why I’m doing this for, why I’m running.” Alfred admitted that she was putting too much pressure on herself after her Olympic triumph. While participating in each race, Alfred thought to herself that the hopes of her entire country depended on herself.

Surely, such a mindset would have indeed caused more harm to the athlete. Thankfully, with her coach Floreal taking the initiative, Julien Alfred can breathe a bit more easily. But the Diamond League is fast approaching, and both the mettle of Alfred and Floreal will be tested. The fans and the community can look forward to what’s going to happen come October.