Four athletes from Saint Lucia, a country in the Caribbean, competed in the 2024 Olympics. The island had never taken home a medal in any sport when it participated in the competition for the first time in Atlanta in 1996, but one Longhorn legend had other ideas.
In her five years in the program, Julien Alfred won many Big 12 indoor and outdoor championships as well as an NCAA indoor championship while a graduate student at Texas, where she began her career in 2018. One of the greatest grad seasons in Texas and NCAA history, Alfred’s was widely recognized. She became the first woman from the Big 12 to complete a double-double in the short sprints at the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. The Longhorns won their fifth outdoor track championship under her direction, their first since 2004.
Alfred has only held the top position since arriving in Paris.
The former Longhorn won the women’s 100-meter qualifying heats, finishing ahead of Italy’s Zaynab Dosso and New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs with a time of 10.95 to go to the semifinals. Alfred was going to have her toughest test in the semifinals against Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and American sensation Sha’Carri Richardson. The race was not started by Fraser-Pryce, so Richardson was the one to beat.
Richardson and Alfred were separated by just 0.05 seconds. Richardson finished in 10.89 seconds, while Alfred finished in 10.84. Alfred was on the verge of making history with one race.
The American sprint trio of Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, and Twanisha Terry may have been more well-known than the Saint Lucian star, but Alfred finished in 10.72 seconds, her best time of the competition, to earn Saint Lucia its first-ever Olympic medal in a final full of sprint luminaries. She also made history by becoming the first star in Texas track and field to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter sprint.
In a February interview, the 2023 Bowerman Award winner—the greatest accolade in collegiate track and field—thanked Texas head coach Edrick Floréal and mentioned Texas as a key resource in her path to become the first person from Saint Lucia to achieve historical significance.
In an interview with Caribbean National Weekly, Alfred expressed his gratitude for both his teammates’ support and the chance to work with Coach Floréal. “They have played a crucial role in my growth as an athlete. With perseverance, commitment, and my team’s help, I think everything is achievable. I’m determined to represent Saint Lucia with a medal and bring honor to my nation.
Floréal was aware that she was destined for great success.
As Julien’s coach, Floréal told CNW, “I have no doubt that she will achieve greatness.” She stands out for her skill, tenacity, and uncompromising dedication to perfection. Julien Alfred is a real champion for Saint Lucia.
Leave a Reply