Going into the Paris Olympics, America had pinned its golden hopes on Sha’Carri Richardson. And who could blame them? With her 2023 world title in the 100m and setting the 2024 world lead at the Olympic trials, she looked like a sure bet to bring home gold for the U.S. for the first time since 1996. But as it turns out, those golden dreams would be swapped for a silver lining, courtesy of Julien Alfred.

This 23-year-old from St. Lucia had other plans, blazing her way down the purple track and leaving Sha’Carri Richardson in her wake during the 100m dash! And if that wasn’t enough, she added a shiny silver medal to her collection in the 200m at Paris 2024. But it wasn’t just the Caribbean celebrating St. Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medalist—Alfred had the whole world buzzing. From the Caribbean to the U.S. to Jamaica, fans were all in, cheering her on like she was one of their own. As for Alfred? She’s opened up about her roots, and trust us, it’s all part of a much bigger story!

Julien Alfred wants to be a part of Jamaica’s sprinting legacy

Julien Alfred’s journey to Olympic glory is more than just about speed—there is also a dash of destiny. Before becoming a household name at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she juggled academics and athletics, pursuing a Youth & Community Studies degree at the University of Texas. But before her Texas days? Alfred found her passion in Jamaica, where a culture of speed is basically a birthright. At just 14, she moved to St. Catherine High School, where for three years she grew her confidence and resilience, setting the stage for future greatness. But why Jamaica?

In her interview with the Olympics network, Alfred opened up: “One of the reasons I went to Jamaica was because of the sprint culture. You know, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, all these amazing athletes. Wanting to be a part of that culture.” she said. “You know, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, all these amazing athletes. Wanting to be a part of that culture.”

She continued, “And when you hear Jamaica, you know about sprinting, the top athletes. So I made a decision along with my childhood coach and my mum for me to go to Jamaica, to come to train and continue my career in track & field.” It wasn’t just the sprinting culture that drew Alfred in; at just 12 years old, she endured the tragic loss of her father, Julian, a moment that, while painful, clearly influenced her journey.

Two years later, she made the tough decision to move to Jamaica to train, leaving behind the carefree barefoot races of her childhood. She explained to The Week, “I didn’t hesitate to go there, even if it wasn’t easy to leave my close friends and family behind at that age.” On the day she left, she recalled feeling overwhelmed with emotion and crying as she left her mother behind. Adjusting to life in Jamaica was far from easy.

She stayed with a family, but adapting to a new culture was tough—especially with the language barrier and not being able to go home for Christmas due to training camps. She admitted there were moments when she considered giving up but knew deep down that perseverance would lead to something great. And here’s a fun tidbit: the Jamaican sprinting legends weren’t just idols for Alfred—they were inspiration. In fact, Usain Bolt’s race played a small role in her Paris Olympics win!

How Juju ‘Bolted’ her way to Olympic greatness

In an interview from August 18, Julien Alfred opened up about her journey and how Usain Bolt became a major source of inspiration for her. She shared, “I wanted to help my family and I saw running as a way out. So I watched a few of his races before mine. I had to go back to my roots to see how he handled everything, from the pressure to the celebrations. He was an inspiration to me growing up and I wanted to be just like him.”

But before going head-to-head with her biggest rival on August 3, Julien had to win a race of her own—one against her nerves. To mentally prepare for the showdown with Sha’Carri, she turned to the videos of the world record phenom and Fastest Man Alive, Usain Bolt, while also spending time journaling. According to the YouTube documentary The Fastest Woman Alive: Julien Alfred’s Rise to Greatness, on the morning of the big day, she woke up at 5 a.m. to soak in the vibe of what was about to unfold. When she had that feeling in her bones, she jotted down four simple words in her journal: “Julien Alfred, Olympic champion.” Talk about manifesting greatness!