They say Julius Caesar uttered “I came, I saw, I conquered,” after his swift victory over King Pharnaces II. The famous quote has lived on in pop culture, especially in sports. However, if any athlete embodied that quite at the 204 Paris Olympics, it would be none other than Julien Alfred. Despite her potential, the hype around Sha’Carri Richardson ensured she flew under the radar.

However, that would all change in the first week of August, as the favorite from the United States, and Alfred took off after the starting gun. In an upset for the ages, Julien Alfred slammed the brakes on the defending world champion’s Olympic gold medal dreams. Out of nowhere, the 23-year-old from St. Lucia had created history for her nation. Suddenly all eyes were on Alfred, including those of Olympic icon Allyson Felix, as Alfred went into the 200m finals to challenge another favorite from the USA.

“Julien Alfred is definitely a dark horse,” the seven-time Olympic gold medalist said ahead of the 200m finals, as revealed in the finale of Sprint Part 2. Felix also commented on the implication of Alfred reaching another coveted milestone. Fans and experts alike believe that the 100m is the main event of the athletics meet, including Olympic track and field. However, those who win the 100-meter race often dream of reaching the 200-meter course and pulling off the double. “I mean to be this young and her first time on this Olympic stage doing the double would be incredible,” added Felix.

Julien Alfred’s idol, Usain Bolt, had won the first of his three Olympic doubles at 21. However, St. Luscia’s first Olympic medalist couldn’t pull off another upset against Team USA 200m favorite Gabby Thomas. Crossing the line in 21.83 seconds, Thomas decisively beat the rising track and field star who finished in second place with 22.08 seconds on the clock. However, Allyson Felix was right to proclaim Alfred as a serious contender.

Julien Alfred is now the biggest threat to Sha’Carri Ricardson’s crown

While Julien Alfred didn’t win the 200-meter gold in Paris, the 23-year-old walked away with two medals from her Olympic debut. And while Sha’Carri Richardson avenged her Paris 2024 loss at the Wanda Diamond League in September, Alfred had the last laugh. St Lucia’s first Olympic gold medalist trumped Ricardson to win the 2024 Diamond League 100m title.

The 100-meter Olympic champion clocked a 10.88-second finish. Meanwhile, the defending world champion could only achieve a distant 8th-place finish. The Americans had a noticeably slow start, and despite her strong finishing skills, Sha’Carri Richardson took 11.23 seconds to reach the finish line. The 2024 Diamond League finals proved two things.

Firstly, unlike the 2020 Tokyo Olympic men’s 100m champion Marcell Jacobs, the St. Lucian wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Moreover, the former Texas Longhorns track and field team star is now the biggest threat to the defending world champion’s 100-meter crown. After losing to Alfred in two of the year’s biggest events, the 24-year-old has to get her act together before the 2025 World Championships come knocking.