Julien Alfred wasn’t even on most people’s radar for the Paris Olympics, let alone the favorite for the 100m and 200m sprints. But after blowing past expectations with a sizzling 10.72 seconds for 100m gold—beating none other than the 2023 World Champ, Sha’Carri Richardson—and snagging a silver in the 200m at 22.08 seconds, everyone’s suddenly taking St. Lucia’s speed queen very seriously.

Back home, Alfred’s become a national icon. St. Lucia’s Prime Minister didn’t waste time declaring September 27, 2024, as “Julien Alfred Day” in her honor—the day she returned from her Paris triumph. It’s all well-deserved celebrity status, but the path here wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Julien faced her fair share of tough breaks, including leaving home young and coping with the heartbreaking loss of her father.

Julien Alfred opens up about shifting life gears at the age of 14

Julien Alfred’s sprinting journey didn’t exactly start under a Caribbean sunbeam. At just 14, she packed her bags, left St. Lucia, and moved to Jamaica to attend St. Catherine High School, a country with a track-and-field legacy second to none. The decision wasn’t easy, but as Julien put it, St. Lucia just couldn’t offer the same shot at greatness. “One of the reasons I went to Jamaica was because of the sprint culture,” she told Olympics.com. “You know, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, all these amazing athletes. Wanting to be a part of that culture.” But the big move came with some serious sacrifices.

It was only two years after her dad’s passing, which had crushed her spirit and even made her quit the sport for a while. “The sacrifice to leave my family at a tender age, the age of 14, to just chase my dreams, it was definitely a tough decision for me,” she shared. Her dad had been her biggest fan, the one cheering at every race. Losing him was a huge blow.

“Also my dad passing away in 2013. I actually stopped track & field during that time, just grieving for him,” she said. But it was his memory that eventually pulled her back onto the track, and it was the love of her childhood coach and mom that propelled her to make the leap. Her dad was her biggest cheerleader, never missing a race and always rooting for her.

His passing took her off the track, but his memory brought her back stronger. It became the fuel she needed to chase her dream, leading to the life-changing choice to train in Jamaica—and later, to join the Texas Longhorns in the U.S. Leaving St. Lucia wasn’t just about opportunity; it was about safety too. Julien’s hometown wasn’t the most secure place to nurture a future track star.

Juju talks about the difficulties she faced during her childhood

In the fifth episode of Netflix’s Sprint 2 documentary, Julien Alfred talked about the area she lived in during her childhood. She said that her town was not the easiest place to grow up. “I grew up in poverty,” said Julien. The athlete talked about how she used to run at a very early age through the fields completely barefoot. But poverty was nowhere near the biggest problem Julien faced during her childhood. The area where she lived was known to be very violent, especially at night.

“There would be gunshots throughout the night. It was a very rough community, a rough childhood,” she shared. Beyond the dangers, she also lacked the facilities needed to develop her track skills. But even then, she knew her talent might be her ticket out. “I just thought I could use my talent to get out of the ghetto,” she said. Just as she was making strides on the track, though, her world was shaken by her father’s passing—a loss that nearly led her to quit for good.

Fortunately, her school coach saw the spark in her and urged her to give track and field another shot. This time, Julien was all in, heading to Jamaica to immerse herself in its legendary sprinting culture. It was a risk, but one that’s clearly paid off. Today, she’s not just keeping up with the greats—she’s aiming to leave her own mark among them. With her talent and tenacity, Julien Alfred could easily retire with a legacy that rivals the Jamaican icons who first inspired her.