“Expectation kills the man.” This saying couldn’t ring truer, especially for athletes like Julien Alfred, who had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Hailing from Saint Lucia, Julien made history at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, securing her country’s first-ever global medal with a 6.98-second win in the women’s 60 meters. From that moment, the bar was set sky-high, and expectations began piling up like a ton of bricks. Everyone, from her home country to the global stage, had their fingers crossed, hoping she’d keep hitting it out of the park.

By the time the Paris Olympics arrived, the pressure on Julien Alfred had reached a boiling point. The expectations were overwhelming, and at one point, it seemed as though she might not even make it to the starting line. She opened up in an interview with Sky Sports, revealing how the weight of trying to please everyone began to take its toll.

“I started putting so much pressure on myself to be good, to please everybody,” Julien Alfred shared. “I felt like… win, win, win to make my country proud, make myself proud, make the people around me proud.” After her breakthrough at the World Indoor Championships, the pressure only increased, and she began to feel like an “I’m a human being. I will feel at some point in my career, however I felt like I was a superhuman” who had to deliver every time.

The burden that weighed heavily on her took a toll on both her mind and body. This led her to contemplate quitting the sport at one juncture. But her coach stepped in to take her away from the track and competition so that he could assist her in prioritizing her physical health. “It was such a hard time for me, where I felt like there’s no way I’m going to continue,” she admitted.

However, things took a turn then for Julien Alfred, as she nearly lost hope but managed to persevere through the times and emerged stronger than before in Paris by clocking 10.72 seconds in the 100 meters, securing the gold and solidifying her status as the fastest woman globally. The intense pressure that once threatened to overwhelm her ultimately became the driving force behind her victory.

At the age of 23 years old, Julien showcased to everyone that despite facing challenges, it is achievable to overcome fears and reach remarkable success. Ultimately, she didn’t merely meet the standards—she exceeded them. However, this triumph was not handed to her effortlessly. Julien faced a road to success—having to part ways with her family at the tender age of 14, enduring criticisms about her body coping with the loss of her father, and navigating through numerous hurdles along the way.

Julien Alfred overcame tragedy to become a track legend

Julien Alfred faced challenges on her path from the age of 12 onwards. Growing up, she had big dreams in track and field, with her father always by her side, cheering her on. But when her father unexpectedly passed away in 2013, Julien nearly gave up on her dreams. Thankfully, her coach at the time, Simeon Stephen, encouraged her to keep going and even convinced her to continue her training in Jamaica.

Two years after her father’s death, Julien left her home in Castries, Saint Lucia, to study at St. Catherine High School in Jamaica. It was one of the best places for the track, but it wasn’t easy. It was challenging being separated from loved ones and buddies; she frequently caught herself daydreaming about returning to her hometown. “I stayed with a family, but it was hard to adapt to a new culture,” she said.

Julien didn’t let her mental battles hold her back; she continued to persevere despite the challenges she faced while growing up, not fitting into society’s narrow expectations of what “normal” girls should look like or act like. Since childhood, she was frequently considered unique due to her muscular physique, a trait that stayed with her as she chased her ambitions in the realm of track and field. She mentioned that when she started lifting weights to enhance her abilities, she noticed an increase in muscle mass, specifically in her arms; this sparked discussions among many people.

Despite facing criticism and feeling pressured by expectations, Julien persevered without allowing it to hinder her progress. She chose to accept her body as a testament to her dedication and effort rather than letting others’ opinions dictate her choices. If I had just given up and not lifted in the gym because I didn’t want to be called too muscular or be told I looked like a man, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today,” she said. Her story shows that it doesn’t matter what the world says or expects from you—what really matters is being yourself and trusting in your own strength.