Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia etched her name in Olympic history by winning gold in the women’s 100-meter dash at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing her country’s first-ever Olympic medal. The 23-year-old sprinter crossed the finish line in a national record time of 10.72 seconds, outpacing world champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States, who took silver with a time of 10.87 seconds.Alfred’s journey to Olympic glory is a testament to perseverance and dedication. Growing up, she used to run barefoot and was inspired by videos of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. Her victory is particularly poignant as she dedicated it to her late father, who passed away in 2013. ‘He believed I could do it,’ Alfred said, visibly emotional. ‘He couldn’t get to see me on the biggest stage of my career, but I know he would be proud of his daughter being an Olympic athlete’.The upset victory has put Saint Lucia, a small Caribbean nation of just 180,000 people, in the global spotlight. Alfred hopes her achievement will inspire youth in her country and potentially lead to improved athletic facilities. ‘Now, people will look up Saint Lucia. I’m proud to represent the Caribbean,’ she stated.Meanwhile, the women’s 100m event was not without controversy. Jamaican sprint star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic champion, unexpectedly withdrew from the semifinals. Reports suggest her withdrawal was due to a new organizational rule requiring athletes to use official Olympic Village transportation to the venue. This incident has raised questions about the fairness and necessity of such regulations.Looking ahead, Alfred is set to compete in the 200m event, with the first round scheduled for Sunday. As for Richardson, despite the disappointment of not securing gold, her silver medal represents a significant comeback following her suspension from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to a positive marijuana test.
Key points
- Julien Alfred won Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal with gold in the women’s 100m.
- Alfred’s victory is dedicated to her late father and has put Saint Lucia in the global spotlight.
- Sha’Carri Richardson claimed silver, marking a comeback after her Tokyo Olympics suspension.
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal due to organizational rules has sparked controversy.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Alfred’s winning time as 10.
72 seconds, one source mentions a semifinal time of 10.
84 seconds, which may be referring to a different race.
