The Paris Olympics served up one iconic moment after another, and the women’s 100-meter sprint was no exception. In an electrifying showdown, Saint Lucia’s own Julien Alfred blazed past 100m world lead Sha’Carri Richardson to clinch not only her first individual Olympic gold but also make history as the first from her country to snag not one but two Olympic medals—gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m. She returned to the Caribbean a national hero, and Saint Lucia pulled out all the stops to celebrate its golden girl!

September 27, 2024, was officially declared “Julien Alfred Day,” and her victory gifts were next-level. The Saint Lucian government handed her a cool EC$1 million, threw in a prime 10,720-square-foot plot of land (a nod to her record-breaking 10.72-second time), and promised her face on a stamp and a line of exercise books. Local businesses poured in cash, gym equipment, annual donations, and more, bringing her haul to dizzying heights. And if you thought that was the end of it—think again!

Another feather in the hat for Julien Alfred

Many Olympians received their type of homecoming when they arrived at their respective nation after a long stint in Paris. However, for an athlete like Alfred, it was quite a different experience, as her accolade put her whole country on the map, gaining a ton of popularity worldwide. She was a distinct runner before, but the Olympic gold propelled her name to the track community and further beyond, as the fans of the sport would be looking at her as an all-time sports celebrity. While getting all the recognition, including a whole holiday in her name, wasn’t enough about her homecoming, the country’s officials have decided to rename their highway after her.

“The Millenium Highway is going to be renamed after me,” she told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. This road project was commissioned all the way back in 2000 and became one of the most popular highways in the country due to the convenience of establishing a swift business route for transporting goods. The road has cost over $75 million, and it connects the crucial east and west coast roads of the country. Getting her name imprinted over one of the most popular pathways of her nation is an enormous honor, and Juju deserves it owing to her prolific performance at such a higher level of track and field.

In the same interview with the Olympics, Alfred reminisced about her very first moments when she returned to her home after ending her season in September. “It was very overwhelming. I felt loved and supported by my fellow Saint Lucians. Definitely not what I expected, in the way that the love they poured into me. But overall it was really exciting — an amazing four days back on home soil and I really enjoyed the celebrations,” said the Saint Lucian sprinter.

While Alfred knew that the Saint Lucians always supported her, she didn’t expect such a massive crowd waiting for her arrival. Eventually, the Olympic gold medalist got a hang of the celebrations and cherished every single moment she shared with her people. It was a well-deserved homecoming for the 23-year-old, and she achieved the accolade of what many thought would’ve gone to Team USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson.

The Juju magic was in full force at the Paris Olympics!

In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, all eyes were locked on Sha’Carri Richardson as the unstoppable force to clinch the 100-meter Olympic gold. And why not? With gold at the 2023 World Championships and a blazing 10.65, she’d left silver medalist Shericka Jackson trailing by 0.07 seconds. Then she topped the 2024 Olympic trials with a world-leading 10.71, leaving the track community with high hopes and a 62.96% implied probability of gold on the betting boards, according to SI.

Naturally, Richardson was the favorite going into the Games, but the semifinals at the Stade de France held a twist no one saw coming. Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred clocked in just 0.05 seconds faster than Richardson, sending ripples through the stadium. Still, most assumed Richardson would bring her signature fire to the final. The stage was set, and the crowd was buzzing—what could possibly go wrong?

The pressure. It was sky-high for both athletes. But for Sha’Carri Richardson, it somehow managed to get the best of her. With only one winner in sight, Alfred stormed down the track, leaving Richardson struggling to catch up as if she were facing invisible hurdles in her lane. The Saint Lucian blazed through the finish line in 10.72 seconds, while Richardson followed with a 10.87—an enormous gap for a race so fiercely anticipated. The crowd watched in shock as Alfred clinched gold, flipping the script and making Olympic history in unforgettable style.