After winning a historic Olympic gold medal for Saint Lucia, Julien Alfred emerged as one of the biggest track and field stars in Paris. However, despite beating the favorite to win Sha’Carri Richardson to the finish line, many doubted Alfred’s lasting power in the sport. After all, she couldn’t replicate the gold-winning success against Gabby Thomas in the 200 meters.

However, just as Letsile Tebogo silenced the doubters, Alfred did the same, beating Sha’Carri Richardson once again at the Diamond League finals. Richardson was looking to avenge her loss against Alfred at Brussels, but it was Alfred who surged ahead of the confident American. Yet, even more eye-catching was the fact that Alfred celebrated her win among Jamaican fans!

Julien Alfred’s Jamaican connection

The Saint Lucian claimed the women’s 100m Diamond League title after crossing the finish line in 10.88 seconds. While it was slower than her Paris Olympics 10.73-second finish, the victorious sprinter approached the stands to greet her fans. However, to the surprise of the casual audience, Jamaican fans seemed elated at the 23-year-old’s success and even clicked pictures with her.

“Julien Alfred taking selfies with Jamaican fans,” NBC Sports Director of Social Media, Travis Miller, wrote on X. Miller shared an image of Alfred in the midst of taking a selfie as several fans draped in Jamaica’s colors cheered for her. Yet, why would fans from a different nation cheer for a rival champion? That’s because Alfred shares a deep connection with the nation of sprinters.

Growing up in a Caribbean nation, the Olympic champion learned about Usain Bolt as a child. “I’ve always wanted to be Usain Bolt, ever since I was little. He was more than my idol,” Alfred confessed to Athletics Weekly. However, her true connection to Jamaica formed two years after a devastating tragedy. The 23-year-old lost her father when she was just 12 years old.

Watching the pillar who supported her track and field ambitions crumble broke the future champion. “He always believed in me and wanted me to be an Olympian,” Alfred said about her father. However, her coach, Simeon Stephen, stepped up to support the young prodigy. Two years later, the then 14-year-old Julien Alfred landed in Jamaica. The young sprinter from Saint Lucia had joined St. Catherine High School in Jamaica as a scholarship student.

Since then, the Ciceron, Saint Lucia, native started training and competing in Jamaica. While Saint Lucia showed her potential, Jamaica molded her into a champion. The sprint-crazed nation’s fans also played a huge role in Alfred’s growth. The massive track and field community in Jamaica cheered for Alfred as their own.

So it’s no surprise that Juline Alfred celebrated with Jamaican fans after today’s race. In fact, the Jamaican track and field enthusiast didn’t shy away from claiming Alfred as one of their own after she won in Paris. So in a way, the two-time Olympic gold medalist is forwarding the legacy established by the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sherica Jackson. However, that only makes her budding rivalry with Sha’Carri Richardson evermore exciting.

The new rivalry to watch out for

After avenging her Paris Olympics loss by defeating Julien Alfred at the Zurich Diamond League, Sha’Carri Richardson was confident she could do it again. Beating her newest rival twice in a row would make a statement leaderless of the Paris 2024 outcome. However, after a slow start, the Paris 4x100m relay gold medalist Richardson faded, finishing the race in a distant eighth place.

Before the Paris Olympics, Sha’Carri Richardson was on course for a blistering comeback. After facing a prolonged suspension for testing positive for THC, a non-performance-enhancing but banned substance, Richardson had a chip on her shoulder. While she captured the World Championship crown in 2023, winning Olympic gold would be the ultimate redemption.

After Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sherica Jackson bowed out during the Olympics following injuries, the coast looked clear. However, Julien Alfred rained on her parade, instantly becoming a rival. Now, with the revelation of her connection with Jamaica, and the adoration of the fans, it’s safe to assume Alfred is the spiritual successor of athletes such as Fraser-Pryce.

Whether it’s in the men’s divisions or women’s divisions, the USA vs. Jamaica rivalry has raged on for decades. While Team USA has repeatedly gotten the better of the Jamaicans in relay events, legends like Usain Bolt have set the benchmark for individual brilliance. Although Julien Alfred wasn’t born in Jamaica, she wouldn’t be where she is today without Jamaican training. So, while the 2024 track and field season is coming to a close, Alfred vs. Richardson is only just beginning!