The Olympics, where legends are made, dreams are crushed, and the difference between victory and heartbreak is measured in mere seconds. The biggest stage! Just making it to the Olympics? That’s a victory in itself. Even without a medal, athletes earn the lifelong title of “Olympian.” But win one? That’s game-changing: instant respect, legendary status, and a place in history. And that brings us to Julien Alfred, who dominated the Paris Olympics, storming to gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. It’s a dream performance. Well, not exactly.

While track fans were celebrating Alfred’s victory, the 23-year-old Saint Lucian sprinter saw her Silver medal very differently. To her, silver wasn’t a win; it felt like weakness as if she wasn’t the best. Sounds surprising? Well, don’t take my word for it, she said it herself.

“My weaker event?”- Julien Alfred’s confession leaves the interviewer stunned

Julien Alfred has been turning heads lately, not just for her amazing sprints but for something unexpected: training for the 400m. Yep, the same Julien Alfred who dominates the 100m and 200m is training for a distance that demands more than just raw speed. And she’s not just trying it out, she’s already making a statement. On April 2, she dropped a ridiculous 49.8-second split in the 4x400m relay at the Texas Relays. Right after, she sat down for an interview with Forbes contributor Katelyn Hutchison, and let’s just say… things took an interesting turn.

Hutchison started things off easy: “What’s your excitement about this year? So are there any expectations for yourself, or are you just kind of vibing?” Julien, keeping it cool, responded, “I’m really just having fun, to be honest. Practice is much different, to be honest, especially when it comes to the longer workouts.” Sounds relaxed, right? But let’s not kid ourselves—training for the 400m is no joke for a short sprinter.

The 100m and 200m are all about explosiveness, speed, and power; you go all out from the gun and don’t stop till you hit the finish. But the 400m? That’s a whole different animal. It’s still a sprint, but you have to balance speed and endurance, because if you push too hard too soon, that last 100 meters will eat you alive. So yeah, for someone like Julien, this is a huge adjustment. But then came the real shocker.

Out of nowhere, Julien Alfred casually added, “Now, I’m getting better for the 200 because, in my head, that’s my weaker event. I’m trying to get stronger for that.” Hold on! What?! We’re talking about the same Julien Alfred who won silver in the 200m at the Paris Olympics. The same sprinter with a personal best of 21.86 seconds.  The same sprinter who is currently ranked #4 in the world, and the only reason she didn’t win gold in Paris? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT!

Well, we know in the Paris Olympics, Gabby Thomas edged her out by just 0.03 seconds, running 21.83. That’s the blink of an eye. So hearing her call the 200m her “weaker event” had Hutchison and probably every track fan doing a double-take. The interviewer did fire back with some sarcasm: “A silver medal is well, a silver medal is a weaker event, actually!”

Julien Alfred, unfazed, simply replied, “It is my mentality towards it, actually. But I’m really enjoying track and field now and seeing what I can do more, and just trying to apply different things that I can to get myself better.” People can label it a weakness if they wish but it remains certain that Julien Alfred brings more to track than speed alone. She’s here to win. And with the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on the horizon, that 0.03-second gap between her and Gabby Thomas? She’s coming for it.

Her coach’s plan to enhance her 200m performance keeps Alfred totally dissatisfied because it involves more than 400m of training. And at this point? She’s had it. She’s done. No more, please!

Turning the page on the 400m while burning rubber on the track

After finishing the 4x400m relay, Julien Alfred gave a definitive statement about her departure from the 400m. “Well, this is my last 4×4,” she said. The strong message was directed at anyone who failed to grasp it. “I am done with the 400s.” That’s it, she’s moving on. The move entails moving forward in her career. Next stop? On April 5 at the Miramar Invitational, she will compete in a final 300m sprint before completely dedicating herself to the 100m and 200m races for the rest of the season.

Julien Alfred secured both victories at the start of her racing season by winning the 300m event at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, followed by her powerful performance in the 400m at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational. When Julien speaks about her performances, these mark just the beginning. During an interview with Real Talk with Tee, the athlete asserted her strong condition, making her prepared to achieve further Saint Lucia historical milestones. “I’m getting stronger. I mean, the way I finished—although my butt was tight—I really feel good and more confident in my strength,” she said.

 She’s putting full trust in Coach Edrick Floreal’s training and is ready to see just how far she can push herself. She said, “I’m just realizing how strong I am. I’m already seeing what I can do—it’s just about trusting the process, putting in the work, and executing.” With that kind of drive? She’s just getting started.