Julien Alfred Gets Real Over Sha’Carri Richardson Competition Following Recent Friendship Remark

Where were you on August 3 when Julien Alfred triumphantly etched herself in the history book? The world looked forward to watching the fastest duel on the now iconic purple tracks at Stade de France. However, here’s where it gets interesting. All eyes were on the reigning 100m world champion, Sha’Carri Richardson. The track and field star had been everyone’s favorite since day 1, and there were no doubts that she would scorch to Olympic glory in Paris. 

But the odds weren’t in her favor. Instead, the Saint Lucian bagged the island nation’s first Olympic medal amid thunderous cheers from the crowds. Unable to hide the disbelief from her face, the 23-year-old had done the impossible. With this, she had rightfully earned the title of being the fastest woman. The dust has settled on the grandeur of the Paris Olympics. But have you ever wondered what motivated the sprinter to leave her competition in her dust?

Julien Alfred spills the beans on her Olympic goals

As the sprinters lined up for the much-awaited Parisian showdown, the world waited with bated breath to crown their new Olympic champion. With the stakes higher than ever, what went through Julien Alfred’s mind? “When you know what you’re there for, when you know your purpose, you just can’t allow yourself to get distracted,” the 23-year-old told Athletics Weekly. It’s safe to say that the Olympian knew this would be her moment to shine. 

Sha’Carri Richardson was deemed the pre-race favorite. But it was the Saint Lucian who crossed the finish line in a national record time of 10.72 seconds. Before the duo locked horns in the French capital, the American sprinter had the world-leading time in the women’s 100m event. She had previously beaten the Olympic 100m Champion in Budapest, bagging the world title. If that wasn’t enough, the 23-year-old lost to the reigning world champion by 0.10 seconds in the 100m event at the Prefontaine Classic.

But Julien Alfred didn’t let any of these drag her down. “With all that was happening in Paris all I had to do was remember why I was there, focus on just executing my own race plan, and not worry about anyone else,” she confessed. And that mindset came through in the 100m finals. In the pouring rain, she sprinted past her competition and never looked back. The Saint Lucian beat Richardson by 0.15 seconds, triumphantly claiming the title of an Olympic champion. 

However, this wasn’t the only thing that helped the 23-year-old achieve her goals. Before she faced her fiercest rival on August 3, the sprinter started her day by writing down four poignant words in her journal. What were those words, you ask? “Julien Alfred, Olympic champion.” Yet, that wasn’t enough. The Saint Lucian decided to spend the rest of her morning watching a few videos of Usain Bolt‘s Olympic races. 

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given how the sprinter has always idolized the Jamaican legend. Growing up, she always opined that she wanted to be the next Usain Bolt. So, watching his triumphs on the world’s biggest stage was a fitting way to start her day. Even though the Saint Lucian proved her mettle amid a raucous cheer from the crowds, she believed it wasn’t enough. So, how is the 23-year-old working towards her next goal?

They might be rivals on the track, but off track things are different

Julien Alfred triumphantly beat Sha’Carri Richardson in Stade de France, catapulting herself into the spotlight. However, this wasn’t her only win on the iconic purple tracks. The Olympian bagged a silver medal in the 200m as well, proving that she’s the one to watch. The duo has enjoyed a tantalizing off-the-track, but things are slightly different on the tracks. In fact, the Saint Lucian once pointed out that even though numerous fans have watched them lock heads on several occasions, “people can be very nice as well.” 

Does this mean that they have a relationship beyond racing? It seems to be that way. Their friendly bond came to light after their intense battle during the Diamond League meets. At the Zurich Diamond League, Richardson bested the Olympic champion by scorching to the finish in 10.84 seconds. As for the 23-year-old? Her time of 10.88 seconds was good enough for a strong second-place finish. But it didn’t end there.

In the grand finale at Brussels, Julien Alfred clinched her first Diamond trophy with a blistering time of 10.88 seconds in the 100m dash. Unfortunately, the American was no match for her, instead settling for an eighth-place finish. While fans have enjoyed the continuous back and forth, the 23-year-old maintains that this is strictly off the tracks. “Whenever I see my competitors, I do say hi to them,” she exclaimed. 

When the duo aren’t competing, they often seem to get along. The Saint Lucian comments on her competitor’s pictures on Instagram, including Sha’Carri Richardson. The sprinter maintained that she’s had numerous quick chats in the DMs. However, how does she feel about her fiercest rival? “Sha’Carri, she’s a very sweet person to me, and so I don’t have any issues with her,” she admitted. So, there’s that! Have you been following their incredible rivalry on the tracks?