SAINT-DENIS, France — The fastest woman in the world isn’t Sha’Carri Richardson or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. It’s Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred.
Alfred shocked the world by winning the women’s 100 final at the Paris Olympics in rainy conditions at Stade de France. The Saint Lucian sprinter ran a national record 10.72 to win gold.
It’s the first ever Olympic medal for Saint Lucia.
“It means a lot to me,” Alfred said. “I definitely knew that Saint Lucians would be watching and hoping that they would get their first Olympic gold medal and first Olympic medal. And it came as a gold. I’m sure they are celebrating right now.”
Sha’Carri Richardson placed second with a 10.87 and Melissa Jefferson’s time of 10.92 was good enough for bronze.
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Alfred revealed that she woke up early Saturday morning and wrote down ‘Julien Alfred, Olympic champion.’ It turns out her note to self came to fruition.
“I think just believing in myself and trusting I could do it is what really mattered to me,” Alfred said.
Richardson was the heavy favorite going into the final. Her time of 10.71 set at the U.S. Olympic Trials is the fastest time in the world this year. But Alfred upset Richardson to win gold at her first ever Olympics.
The women’s 100 final was missing plenty of star power due to the absence of Jamaica’s three stars. Elaine Thompson-Herah suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 100 just before the Olympic track and field competition was set to begin and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shockingly scratched just before the start of the semifinal.
Alfred, who competed collegiately for the University of Texas, had the third fastest time in the world entering the Paris Olympics. She won the 100 at the 2022 NCAA track and field championships while with the Longhorns.
The 2022 NCAA champion is now an Olympic champion, and the first Olympic medalist in Saint Lucia’s history.
