Julien Alfred has been on a dream run since the Paris Olympics. When the camera panned to the St. Lucian, very few would have been interested to know about Alfred. Instead, all the talks were about the mysterious absence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. But once the race started, the entire world was awestruck to see Alfred crushing the hopes of the crowd favorite to win the race. Running a blitzkrieg time of 10.72s, Alfred dashed the hopes of the American phenom, Sha’Carri Richardson. 

Beating the likes of Richardson, Alfred created history. She became the very first female athlete from Saint Lucia to win an Olympic gold medal. And as a matter of fact, this was not the only time that Alfred was able to get the better of Richardson. After the conclusion of Paris, the duo once again met in the Diamond League final. And the results? Well, it did not change much. Alfred kept her composure throughout the season as she beat Richardson’s time once again.

Julien Alfred braces for a tough season ahead 

Rounding off her dominant season, there was one last field where Alfred would have wanted to beat Richardson. And she certainly achieved that too! Ahead of the US sprinter, it was Alfred’s accomplishments that were acknowledged. She won the Female Athlete Year of the Year, which served as the perfect icing on the cake. Now, having had a breakthrough season, Alfred will look to continue her dominance into the upcoming season. 

Well, this is where the actual challenge will begin. Defending one’s champion status is usually a lot more difficult than winning the championship itself. And surely Alfred knows this the best. That is why she has recently dropped some major updates regarding her training regime. Speaking on the FloTrack podcast, Alfred stated, “Oh my God, training has been so different this year. It’s been a lot harder than before, thanks to Flo. But you know, now the Olympics is over, and we’re preparing for World Championships next year in September, I believe.”

Alfred further mentioned how she has been trying to lock in on her previous season’s performance. The Olympic gold medalist also mentioned that every race is a new start. Thus, it is very important to keep the momentum going. However, despite the lurking danger of faltering, Alfred is looking forward to keeping the champions’ hunger burning within her. More so, because she is eyeing the Worlds gold in her upcoming venture, defeating the indomitable rivals from the U.S. and Jamaica.

Alfred’s relentless pursuit to reign the track realm, driven by her unmatched love for her homeland

Now, in the era of women’s sprinting, Julien Alfred has already cemented her ground as a beacon of athletic prowess. From the moment she crossed the finish line in Paris to become Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Alfred’s journey has been one of defying odds and breaking barriers. But now, with a competitive world championship season ahead, one question looms. Can she retain her title as the world’s fastest woman in the face of relentless competition from powerhouses like Sha’Carri Richardson and Shericka Jackson?

For the Olympic gold medalist, the answer lies not only in outrunning her competitors but also in staying true to a deeper, personal motivation. The sprint phenom stated, “My motivation is to be the best in the world, to be my best self, the best athlete I can be, and to prove to myself that I belong here. That’s my source of motivation.” Moreover, the love that she nurtures within her heart for her motherland acts as the highest source of inspiration for her. Alfred convincingly added, “For me, it’s just getting to the point that I want to get to, working hard towards that, putting my country on the map, proving to myself that I belong among the great athletes.”

With the pride of Saint Lucia on her shoulders, Alfred isn’t simply racing for medals. Rather, she’s rewriting history for her homeland. “I’m a damn proud Lucian forever and always,” said Julien. On the other hand, while Alfred cherishes her identity as a proud Lucian, she also holds immense respect for the Jamaican sprinting legacy that shaped her early career. Training in Jamaica as a teenager exposed her to the indomitable sprint culture of legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt.

“When you hear Jamaica, you know about sprinting, the top athletes…” she explained. “One of the reasons I went to Jamaica was because of the sprint culture… Wanting to be a part of that culture,” added Alfred. With her roots firmly in Saint Lucia and her aspirations shaped by the world’s best, Julien Alfred undoubtedly stands at the forefront of a new generation of sprinters. And with all the poise and grit, the 23-year-old is ready to defend her crown and inspire a legacy far beyond the track.