Is Julien Alfred Christian? Everything to Know About Julien Alfred’s Ethnicity and Religion

Track fans across the USA couldn’t believe what unfolded at the Paris Olympics 100m event. The reigning women’s 100m world champion, Sha’Carri Richardson, was handed an unexpected defeat by Julien Alfred, forcing the former to settle for second place and a silver medal.

Despite setting the 2024 world lead at the US Olympic Team Trials, Richardson’s quest for golden glory on the grand stage fell short. But on the other hand, the world had found a new star. With the 23-year-old making her mark emphatically on the biggest sporting stage there is, let’s get to know more about the Paris Olympics 100m champion, for whom the significance of this win was beyond rivalry and competition.

What is Julien Alfred’s ethnicity?

Julien Alfred delivered a breathtaking performance in that 100m sprint, clocking in at a sensational 10.72 seconds to claim gold in the French capital. For the world, she was a new name, but in the American collegiate scene, the Olympian had been gathering a reputation for being fast. The Texas Longhorns had won 5 NCAA titles in 2023, winning the Bowerman Award, the highest honor in collegiate track and field. But then again, Julien Alfred is not American.

Born in Saint Lucia to Julian Hamilton and Johanna Alfred, the Paris Olympics champion was raised in Ciceron, a locale in Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital. Not much is known about the lineage of her parents, but most Saint Lucian inhabitants are said to have African ancestry. Alfred’s father died when she was 12 years old, and since then, she has been raised by her mother and looked after by her coaches, without whom she couldn’t have achieved this dream.

Moreover, there has also been a role of divine faith in her journey, which has shaped the way she approaches life.

What is Julien Alfred’s religion?

The Paris Olympics 200m silver medalist is a devout Christian with strong Catholic roots. And she knows God guides her along her path, knowing what’s best for her. So, after she won the historic 100m gold in Paris, she told the reporter, “I prayed to Him that whenever I win, I’ll give Him the glory always. So, I thank God for bringing me through, for giving me the strength to come so far and Father, I give you glory.”

That divinity gives her the strength to strive towards her goal non-stop is evident from the phrase written in her bio – Romans 8:18. It directs to a verse from the Bible that goes like this: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Every time she thought her training was too hard, the words of Apostle Paul reverberated with her. And overcoming her pain and fear, she reached the top of the podium.

Her faith in God and the divine advice have helped her reach the pinnacle of success. As for what’s next? Trust God. “Whatever God has planned for me. [All] I’ve been doing is trusting in God, trusting in His plans for my life and it’s just carried me through,” said the 2024 World Indoor Champion. Julien Alfred trusts His process wholeheartedly: “God has the plans for us; we have our own plans but God’s plan is always better than ours.”

Well, whatever she has followed has helped her fulfill her biggest dream – to win gold for her country.

Which country does the Paris Olympics 100m champion represent in international competitions?

“Growing up, I’ve always said I wanted to be one of Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medalists,” Alfred had revealed to Olympics.com in August 2024, after her dream had become a reality. “First gold medalists at the Olympic Games.” Saint Lucia, which is mentioned as her country in her World Athletics profile, is a picturesque island nation in the Caribbean. A mere 180,000-odd people inhabit the beautiful Eastern Caribbean nation, which has beautiful, serene beaches and lush green landscapes covered with rain forest.

Ecotourism has been a driver of the country’s economy, which will get a boost now that Julien Alfred has brought Saint Lucia out into the limelight. “I’m a damn proud Lucian forever and always,” the Olympian had said to Olympics.com in November 2024. “It’s always a pleasure representing my country on the global stage and putting my flag on the map — my country on the map — is always an amazing feeling.”

In the glow of her triumph, Alfred’s journey from the small island of Saint Lucia to Olympic gold is a testament to her talent and determination. Her victory not only marks a personal milestone but also shines a spotlight on the burgeoning athletic prowess of her homeland. Alfred’s spot on the top of the podium also marks the first-ever medal for her country on the big stage ever since Saint Lucia first participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The country had attained independence from British colonization only in 1979.

Saint Lucia has come a long way, but to get an Olympic gold within 46 years of its independence, they have to thank Julien Alfred and her caliber.