What a season it has been for Julien Alfred! She seized a victory in the 100m finals at Stade de France and has done it again at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. The sprinter turned heads yet again in Brussels. After a close run-in with Sha’Carri Richardson in Zurich, the Saint Lucian was ready to channel that energy into a victory on September 13. In one of the most anticipated track and field events, the 23-year-old’s blistering 10.88 seconds was enough to clinch the Diamond League title. 

It’s safe to say that the Olympian has definitely earned bragging rights. In a post-race interview, she was asked how she felt after the tantalizing race. “I’m so happy. It feels amazing to finish my season on a good note and take the win. I am just so proud of myself,” the 23-year-old exclaimed. While ending the season with a bang was one of her motivations, there was another – the 100m event in Zurich. How did the sprinter prepare to bounce back from that? 

Julien Alfred stated, “My preparation was a bit difficult. It was really hard for me after Zurich. But I think that actually prepared me for Brussels. That gave me the energy to do so good today.” As she crossed the finish line, the sprinter had the biggest smile. But it was more due to how content she was with her performance. Further adding, she said, “I had to perform. I wanted to prove to myself that I deserve to be here and that I am not a one-time thing.” Being the first Saint Lucian to clinch an Olympic medal, what could possibly make her feel this way? 

Zurich hosted the first race after Paris, between the Saint Lucian and Sha’Carri Richardson. However, the latter sprinted to victory in 10.84 seconds. The Olympic champion had to settle for a second-place finish with 10.88 seconds on the clock. The 23-year-old revisited the race and was shocked by all the nay-sayers. “After Zurich, I watched the race on YouTube to analyze my race, and I read some comments that said I was a one-time thing, and that’s really not nice to say.” But it gave Alfred the push she needed.

With renewed vigor, Julien Alfred tried shaking those comments off. “But I was here to prove to myself that I can win. But sometimes those comments can be very hard.” Her 100m victory was a beautiful display of her skills, and the Saint Lucian had done what she intended to. However, what’s next for her, you might ask? “And now I am going back to Saint Lucia and to Aruba! Last year, I stayed in Austin, but not this year.” The 23-year-old hasn’t been home since claiming her maiden Olympic gold in the French capital. So, we’re sure she will enjoy kicking her feet up and getting some much-needed rest. 

Before she commences her downtime, she went through an intense few moments, and let’s have a look at that.

What went through Julien Alfred’s mind before the finals in Brussels?

With her stellar performance at the French capital, the Saint Lucian had etched her name in history. However, she wanted to keep that momentum going in the Diamond League. On September 5, the sprinter faced Richardson on the track yet again. Given how things turned out in Paris, many thought the 23-year-old would claim another win in Zurich. However, it just wasn’t meant to be. As she prepared to face Richardson again at Brussels, the sprinter had a few things going on in her mind. 

Julien Alfred stated, “Sometimes we just have to look at the losses that we have and use it as a motivation to get to where we want to go.” This season, the score between the rivals stands at 2-2, and the Olympian hoped to set the record straight at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. She had done just that tonight. Not only did she silence all the noise, but more importantly, Alfred proved she was here to stay, and nothing could change that.