Julien Alfred didn’t just win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics; she changed the course of history for St. Lucia! Now, ANOC’s Best Female Athlete of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Alfred, has become the talk of the town for the past three months, and it’s no surprise why. She clinched St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic gold medal. St. Lucia, with a population of just 180,000, has never been a sprinting powerhouse, but Alfred shattered expectations. In track and field, where the USA and Jamaica have long been the front-runners in sprinting, Julien turned the tables and rewrote her nation’s legacy with a single run.

But Alfred didn’t just grab gold for her country; she became the world’s fastest woman. In doing so, she beat American favorite Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100-meter final in Paris. Alfred finished in 10.72 seconds, with Richardson trailing behind at 10.87 seconds and bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson rounding out the race at 10.92 seconds. Since that historic win, Julien’s life has completely flipped—no doubt in the best way possible. So, how does she feel about all these changes?

A moment to remember

On November 26th, Julien Alfred sat down for an interview on FloTrack, and when host Nia Gibson asked her about how life had changed since her big win, Julien had a lot to say. “Life has been changing, to be honest, especially after returning home,” she shared. And honestly, that’s an understatement. The way St. Lucia welcomed her back was nothing short of amazing. Known as “JuJu,” she returned to the eastern Caribbean island where she once ran barefoot as a child, but this time, she came home a hero.

The whole country was buzzing with excitement when her plane landed at Hewanorra International Airport. The Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, was there to greet her, and Julien could barely believe the reception. “I’m truly lost for words,” she told him, as the island, which has just over 179,000 people, gave her the kind of hero’s welcome you usually see for Olympic champions from much bigger nations. It was a moment of pure joy for both Julien and her people—finally, a local hero who made history on the world stage.

During the interview session, Julien further added how her life has changed since the Olympics. “Before I returned to St. Lucia, I couldn’t really answer that question. But after returning home, just seeing the amount of support I received from St. Lucians and also becoming a tourism ambassador for my country, life has just been completely different since then.”

Julien has even made a mark in the history of Saint Lucia’s achievements, as September 27, 2024, is known as Julien Alfred Day in recognition of her Olympic gold and silver medals. In addition to those accolades, she was appointed Tourism Ambassador for Saint Lucia in October. In this capacity, she will participate in the activities, marketing efforts, and social media campaigns to highlight the charm of her homeland.

As Tourism Minister Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire said, “With her influence, we aim to attract visitors seeking not just a destination but an inspiring experience that resonates deeply.” After achieving success, Julien shows no signs of stopping. She’s eager to return to the track and face Sha’Carri Richardson once more.

The heartbreaking moment that almost ended Julien Alfred’s dream

Julien Alfred has already poems, paintings, and even a calypso song dedicated to her. But before she took home that gold, Julien was already making waves. She was a seven-time national champion at the University of Texas, and in her final year, she led her team to the 2023 NCAA championship and won the prestigious Bowerman Award. Now, with her Olympic success behind her, she’s ready to face off with Sha’Carri Richardson again at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Julien’s journey, to this point, is truly remarkable and heartwarming. When she was 12 years old, she stopped running following the passing of her father, a man who had always envisioned her as a champion. It required an amount of support from a coach to reignite her passion for the sport. By the age of 14, Julien relocated to Jamaica to undergo training and later received a scholarship to attend the University of Texas. She fondly recalls her childhood days in Castries. How she used to outrun the boys in her class while dreaming of emulating her idol, Usain Bolt. “I just wanted to be just like him,” she says.

Her coach, Eldrick Floreal, played a huge part in helping her stay focused and believe she could be an Olympic champion. “He has been my rock,” she says, clearly grateful for his support. But now, Julien is not just an Olympic gold medalist—she’s a role model for her whole country. She hopes to inspire young people in St. Lucia, saying, “I’m really hoping that we can help the youth in the country believe that they can get out of the ghetto… We can come from a small place but also be on the biggest stage.”