“I was there to win.” Leading up to the 100m finals at Stade de France, Julien Alfred only had eyes for the shiny Olympic gold. However, 100m World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson was poised to be the favorite. But on that fateful rainy night, the track and field world wasn’t ready for what was coming. In front of a raucous crowd, the Saint Lucian cemented her name in history by sprinting to victory on August 3. Not only did she leave her competitors back in the dust, but she also went on to claim her nation’s first Olympic gold. 

While this isn’t the first time she’s bested the American sprinter, they will now come face to face again at the Zurich Diamond League. But since her historic feat, the 23-year-old refuses to step back. Currently placed 7th in the DL standings, the Saint Lucian is looking to get her hands on even more glory at Zurich. The sprinter is hoping to move forward to qualifying in the finals at Brussel and hasn’t stopped training even for a day. But this dedication has come with a massive con for her.

In a press conference before the much-anticipated event, Julien Alfred opens up about the difficult choices she had to make. “Yeah, I’m gonna go back home. I haven’t gotten a chance to celebrate with my country as yet, to see the youth of my country.” However, this didn’t hinder any celebrations in the island nation. Her countrymen caught a glimpse of the incredible moment. The Prime Minister’s office even renamed August 3 “Juju Day” in her honor.

But the sprinter is still yearning to go back to her nation. She continued, “So I really want to go back to Saint Lucia and celebrate with them and maybe go for vacation after that. Still deciding on where I wanna go.” 2024 has been a tremendous season for the 23-year-old. We don’t blame her for wanting to put her feet up after it’s all done and dusted. At the Monaco Diamond League, she blazed past the finish line to her maiden Diamond League victory. Her incredible time of 10.85 seconds was detrimental to her competitor’s gold medal dreams. 

Even though Tamari Davis and Dina Asher-Smith finished in 10.99 seconds, the American edged the Brit sprinter out for a second-place finish. In a post-race interview, Alfred opened up about her mindset for the race. “I was specially prepared today not to make a mistake and to just focus on myself and my own race.” She next set her sights on claiming her maiden Olympic gold medal. But Sha’Carri Richardson had the same idea too. 

Julien Alfred vs. Sha’Carri Richardson on the track

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Fresh off her Monaco Diamond League victory, the Saint Lucian spent the morning of her finals watching videos of Usain Bolt’s stellar victories. This prompted the sprinter to make a promise to herself—she was going to be an Olympic champion by the end of the night. As the rain decorated Stade de France’s purple tracks, Alfred prepared to run the best race of her life. Even though many believed Sha’Carri Richardson would clinch an easy win, it was the 23-year-old who emerged victorious instead.

However, the American’s reaction time of 0.221 seconds foreshadowed the results of the most anticipated events of the night. In contrast, Julien Alfred’s reaction time of 0.144 seconds gave her an early lead. With every stride, the gap between herself and her competitors kept increasing. In the blink of an eye, the Monaco Diamond League had crossed the finish line. With her incredible time of 10.72 seconds, she had done it! She was Saint Lucia’s first Olympic champion. Richardson trailed behind her in 10.87 seconds on the clock. 

As soon as the race ended, tears streamed down the 23-year-old’s face. Wrapping the nation’s flag around, she took a celebratory lap around the stadium. However, she’s hoping for a similar result again at the Letzigrund Stadium Zurich when she faces her rival yet again. Will Sha’Carri Richardson’s slow start hold her back? Or will she edge Julien Alfred out, reclaiming her 100m crown at the Zurich Diamond League?