Julien Alfred Makes History with Olympic 100m Gold in Paris

Julien Alfred stormed to victory in the women’s 100m at Paris 2024, making history as St Lucia’s first Olympic medalist. Amidst a rainy Stade de France, the 23-year-old dominated the final, clinching gold with a national record time of 10.72 seconds.

American world champion Sha’Carri Richardson claimed silver with a time of 10.87 seconds, followed by her compatriot Melissa Jefferson, who secured bronze in 10.92 seconds. Great Britain’s Daryll Neita finished just off the podium in fourth place, crossing the line in 10.96 seconds. Neita’s performance marked the best finish by a British female athlete in an Olympic sprint final in 64 years, though she expressed disappointment at narrowly missing out on a medal.

“I’m finding it hard to find words at the minute, literally speechless, so close to the medal, so close,” Neita told BBC Sport. “I’m healthy and I have the 200m to contest. I was so close to that medal and I really want that medal, but fourth in the Olympics is something to be proud of.”

British sprinters Dina Asher-Smith and Imani-Lara Lansiquot did not make it to the final, while Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew before her semi-final. Asher-Smith finished fifth in her semi-final with a time of 11.10 seconds, and Lansiquot ran 11.21 seconds, missing the cut. Asher-Smith expressed her disappointment, saying, “I’m just disappointed because I’m in great shape and have been in great shape all season. I fully expected to make that final; the race wasn’t even fast.”

Both Neita and Asher-Smith will now focus on the 200m event, aiming for a medal as the competition starts on Sunday morning.

St Lucia, a Caribbean island with fewer than 200,000 people, had never won an Olympic medal before Alfred’s remarkable performance. She dominated the race from the start, leaving Richardson and others behind as she claimed a commanding victory. Celebrating her first global outdoor title, Alfred sprinted beyond the finish line, tearing her pinned name off her vest and showing it to the crowd.

“I’m thinking of God [and] my dad, who didn’t get to see me,” Alfred said. “He passed away in 2013. Dad, this is for you. I miss you. I did it for him, I did it for my coach and God.”

Alfred had announced herself earlier in the year by winning world indoor 60m gold, another first for St Lucia. She has steadily improved throughout the season, setting a personal and national record of 10.78 seconds in June and reducing her 200m best to 21.86 seconds in London last month.

Based in Austin, Texas, where she trains under coach Edrick Floreal alongside Asher-Smith, Alfred reached the finals in both the 100m and 200m at the 2023 World Championships, finishing fifth and fourth, respectively. Now, with her historic win, she aims to continue her success in the 200m, drawing inspiration from Jamaica’s sprint legend Usain Bolt.

“Usain Bolt won so many medals. I went back this morning and watched his races. I’m not going to lie; it was all Usain Bolt’s races this morning,” Alfred said.