Who Are Julien Alfred’s Parents and Siblings? Everything You Need to Know About the Saint Lucian Track Star

Julien Alfred’s drive and resilience to become an Olympic champion can be captured in a defining moment of her sprinting career: “The sacrifice to leave my family at a tender age, the age of 14, to just chase my dreams—it was definitely a tough decision for me.” But it has all been worth it. Becoming the first Saint Lucian track and field athlete to win a gold medal is no easy feat. That, too, by beating Sha’Caari Richardson. However, this is not technically her first time standing on an Olympic podium. Kind of.

Remember her silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires? While the world watched her gracefully stand on the Olympic podium after finishing in 11.23 seconds, there was something the world did not see. The impact her loved one has had on her Olympic dream. And while we celebrate her achievements, we can’t help but wonder who are the people who drive her on and who are Julien Alfred’s parents?

Who is Julien Alfred’s father?

Julian Hamilton, Julien’s father, can be said to be the guiding spirit behind the Paris Olympian. Although he unfortunately passed away when Julien Alfred was only 12, he has been on his daughter’s mind every step of her track and field journey. When she was on the podium of the Youth Olympics outing, she tried to think what her father would feel: “I’m sure he would have wished for me to get this medal and be here for this moment.”

This was five years after his passing at the age of 42. In fact, Alfred was so devastated by her father’s death that she gave up track and field. And it would have stayed that way if not for a coach who instilled the motivation of running back in the Paris Olympian. Winning it for Saint Lucia, Julien Alfred knows she is making both her parents proud. One of her biggest motivations has been to put her country on the map and show the world the beauty of her island nation.

But in trying to realize her objective, the Paris Olympian has needed lots of support. And one uncompromising supporter in her journey has been her mother.

Who is Julien Alfred’s mother?

Thankfully, for Joanna Alfred, she has also had help raising her daughter, Julien. She recognized her daughter’s talent but understood that it needed proper coaching, resources, and guidance to flourish. “If I didn’t have the support of at least Twa Ti Ney [Julien’s local coach, Cuthbert Modeste] when her father passed, he became the father figure in this young lady’s life, then again I would have to struggle.”

Yes, it was Cuthbert Modeste, because of whom Julien Alfred came back to the tracks. But what also helped was Joanna’s job. She worked at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa and Beach Resort for more than 16 years to help sustain a livelihood and provide for her 4 children, especially Julien, whose career needed financial support.

Joanna Alfred told thevoiceslu.com in August 2019, “Mr Anderson (Managing Director of Sandals Saint Lucia) has always been so supportive.” The job security at Sandals meant she could help Julien move to Jamaica to properly restart her track and field career. Talking to First Post, the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist narrated, “I got an opportunity to go to Jamaica. So I think getting the opportunity to go to a place where Usain Bolt is was ideal and I decided I wanted to be there and my mum gave me the opportunity to go.”

Johanna Alfred just tried to think clearly about what would be good for her daughter. As Julien Alfred shared, “She (mother) didn’t say no. She just said to me, If you want to go then, okay.” The Olympian’s mother thanks Sandals for the good things that have happened to her: “The company has treated me very well, and the children have gotten scholarships to assist with their education.”

Who are the Paris Olympian’s siblings?

The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games champion grew up with two brothers, Daniel Alfred and Chad Alfred, and a sister, Juliana Hamilton. While not much is publicly known about them, their mother has guided them to prioritize education and work towards success in life.

In fact, both Johanna and Julian’s values and their advice have shaped their children’s lives.

What is Julien Alfred’s parents’ nationality?

Joanna Alfred and the late Julian Hamilton are both of Saint Lucian nationality. And like them, Julien Alfred is also a proud Saint Lucian, as she told Olympics.com in November 2024: “I’m a damn proud Lucian forever and always.” So much so that she wanted to bring Olympic medals to her beautiful country: “Growing up, I always said I wanted to be one of St. Lucia’s first medalists… first gold medalists.”

Well, mission accomplished—and more. And now, her sights are set on the next race that comes.