Someone who’s been hooked into track and field for the past few months is aware of Julien Alfred dethroning Sha’Carri Richardson in Paris to claim her 100-meter Olympic crown. The American sprinter was a fan favorite but had to settle for silver, owing to the Saint Lucian sprinter’s amazing pace. However, did this defeat change the dynamics between the two?

Absolutely not! These track and field athletes receive adrenaline at its peak whenever they run in a meet, but behind the scenes, they are just peers trying to push each other. Recently, Alfred also cleared up the fact that Richardson isn’t her only rival on track. Furthermore, she emphasized her mentality, which has two different modes when it comes to her athletic endeavors.

Having a contrasting character

Julien Alfred is a person who has admired Usain Bolt since she was a child. The Jamaican legend was known for his friendly manner off the track, but whenever it came to any competition, he always showcased his tremendous speed and the desire to be the best, which he did achieve eventually. So, keeping the best of the best as her idol, the Saint Lucian sprinter worked on her skills accordingly and also kept a unique mindset. Surely, Juju also has competitors on the rack, but her eyes aren’t only focused on a single one of them, like Richardson, but whoever is on the grid becomes her rival at that moment.

In the community, many also considered both of them archrivals after Alfred dethroned the American sprinter. However, previously the Saint Lucian runner has revealed that she has no problem connecting with her fellow sprinters, which also includes Richardson. Furthermore, once she gave a candid insight on the American, stating, “Sha’Carri, she’s a very sweet person to me, and so I don’t have any issues with her.” Surely, she is friendly to her peers, but does it affect her mentality during a major event like the Olympics?

During an interview with The Telegraph, Alfred revealed the competitiveness, stating, “It’s almost like an alter ego. Sometimes I can be just regular, having a little chit-chat like we are now, or a little laugh with somebody and just talking so calmly. But when I’m on the track, I don’t talk. I don’t have any friends.“ These conflicting emotions that come to an athlete are very common. During races, these sprinters are filled up with adrenaline and always keep the win as their utmost priority.

All of these emotions and hormones running through their body and brain make them really competitive and create a whole new personality on track. Surely, whenever she is out of the track, Alfred claims to become that friendly person who likes to have funny interactions among her peers or even just with anyone she meets. “I don’t care who you are or how good our friendship is outside of track and field; it’s just a whole different mindset, and I’m just hungry,” added the 100-meter Olympic champion.

It’s two different spectrums that the Saint Lucian runner provided, and it’s just not her who has such a mindset while being a track and field athlete. In any sport, there is surely a camaraderie between the athletes participating in the same genre; however, they also share a certain rivalry with their peers, as without it they won’t be able to surpass themselves. The aspect of rivalry doesn’t only push the athletes to perform better than their current form, but it also provides fans with many impressive performances to witness.

The 2024 season was filled with a cluster of emotions for Juju. She started her campaign indoors and excelled in her ambitions. However, she also performed at her best when it came to outdoor track meets and was going shoulder to shoulder with her rivals. And the moment she arrived at the Paris Olympics, she stunned everybody with her performance in the women’s 100m final and beat the favorite Sha’Carri Richardson. Since the win was historic, it made her burst into different kinds of emotions that she wasn’t able to hold back on.

Julien Alfred recalls overflowing emotions

Julien Alfred was never in contention for winning the 100-meter Olympic medal, but she defied all odds at the Stade de France to claim what she had been wanting for a long time. As seen on Netflix’s Sprint Season 2, Episode 3, the Saint Lucian runner reflected on this heartwarming victory, stating, “All I’m thinking about right now is just that I have finally made it. All my hard work and all my sacrifices paid off. It’s almost like a relief just seeing how far I’ve come. A little girl from Saint Lucia is finally here.”

The Olympic gold medal was her ultimate prize, and she deserved it. Alfred has been trying to prove herself for a long time in the track and field scene but always has been a step behind the gold. However, it was completely different this time, as she had ticked off a big dream from her bucket list. The Saint Lucian sprinter’s victory was also a big upset for the American fans, who had thought that Richardson would be the victor in the women’s 100m category. Whatever took place in Paris is just the start of a rivalry between the two athletes, and there will be many more meets that will see them running against each other to grab the top step of the podium.