Remember how Julien Alfred surged past the finish line in the women’s 100m finals months ago in Paris? The Saint Lucian always wanted to grow up and be the next Usain Bolt. However, amidst a raucous crowd at Stade de France, the sprinter laid the bricks for a legacy of her own. The skies opened up to create a dramatic atmosphere, soaking the purple tracks before the most anticipated event in the French capital. Yet, on that fateful night on August 3, the 23-year-old stood on the brink of history. And we get to witness it all over again.

Netflix’s SPRINT is back four months after the first season dropped. This time, the stakes are higher than ever. Why? The crew followed some of the fastest athletes on the planet throughout their Olympic Trials and Games journey. The Olympic 100m champion is one of the prominent sprinters on the show. While we watch her journey leading up to one of the most historic nights of her life, a certain someone always believed the Saint Lucian would silence the world on August 3. Who could it be?

Nothing could stop Julien Alfred from creating history

The 23-year-old began her 2024 season as the 2023 NCAA Championships medalist at the University of Texas. However, during the women’s 60m final at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Julien Alfred proved her mettle on the track. The sprinter surged to the finish line in 6.98 seconds, clinching her nation’s first-ever senior global medal and equaling the world lead. Heading into the Olympic Games, she looked forward to leaving the French capital with two shiny medals.

Saint Lucia had never won any medals in the Games before. Yet, undeterred, the 23-year-old looked forward to change that. But she wasn’t the only one. In episode 3 of Netflix’s SPRINT, her manager, Henry Rolle, reveals how he believed Paris would be a game-changer for them. “I had a dream two weeks prior to the Olympic Games that Julien will win. And hopefully, this one comes true,” he confessed. However, it wouldn’t be easy.

Julien Alfred locked horns with an incredibly stacked line-up and, more importantly, the crowd favorite, Sha’Carri Richardson. Yet, this didn’t worry Rolle as much. In fact, he warned the track and field world about the Saint Lucian’s incredible potential. “If you don’t see Julien Alfred as a threat going to the Olympic Games, you’re not focused.” The sprinter’s blistering 10.72 seconds in the final was a testament to that. She had done the impossible and clinched Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medal. However, this wasn’t the only twist the Games served fans.

The sprinter’s fiercest rival missed out on all the action

The Saint Lucian was fast, but many looked forward to the Jamaican stepping onto the track for another shot at the Olympic gold. Shericka Jackson was set to contest in the 100m and 200m races at Stade de France. In fact, she was the nation’s fastest runner of the year in the event, with a blistering 10.84 seconds at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. Understandably so, many believed Paris would be her Golden Moment.

But the sprinter shocked the track and field world on July 31. What really went down? Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 100m race due to health reasons. Many speculated that she would focus on the 200m event instead. However, the Netflix documentary sheds light on this pivotal moment. Julien Alfred and the 5x Olympic medalist are preparing for a press event ahead of the competitions.

While the Jamaican waited to get mic’d up, a crew member asked if she was okay. The sprinter cheerfully affirms that she is. Yet, during this pleasant conversation, the news of her withdrawal breaks out, causing a member to inform Julien Alfred of the same. “So, the latest news is that Shericka Jackson will not run the 100m.” Jackson even confirmed that she would only run the 200m dash. But the sprinter reiterated that she was okay and focusing on training.

Even though the Saint Lucian stepped into the French capital as a capable competitor, the world still viewed her as an underdog in the event. This could be due to the nation’s track record in the Games. The athletes weren’t even allowed a designated tent at the Games, unlike some “big countries.” Coach Edrick Floreal pointed it out in the docuseries, and the Olympian affirmed. But her ground-breaking victory at the Stade de France put the humble island nation on the map.