JULIEN “Juju” Alfred is making a significant impact with her debut Olympic run, advancing to the semi-finals of the Women’s 100-meter event at the Paris Olympics. Today, the Saint Lucian sprinter aims to secure the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in any sport. She clocked a time of 10.95 seconds, finishing first in lane nine of heat two in the preliminaries, and is now focused on the semi-finals and finals scheduled for today.
Alfred, a strong medal contender at this year’s Paris Olympic Games, previously won the 60m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in March, solidifying her status as one of Saint Lucia’s most celebrated athlete. Before the games, she spoke about her rigorous practice techniques and intense five-week training regimen, stating, “I am understanding better now what it takes to be a professional athlete and I’m just learning day by day. We had a long five weeks of hard training, so it is pretty much as I have tried to work on my techniques, trying to work on my endurance and the things to get me ready for the Olympic Games.”
In addition to her impressive performance in the 100m, Alfred will also compete in the women’s 200m, scheduled between August 4 to 6. In March 2024, she secured a gold medal at the World Athletics Indoors Championship in Glasgow with a time of 6.98 seconds in the 60m finals. She also set a new national record of 21.86 in the 200m at the London Diamond League, claiming the silver medal.
If Alfred wins a medal, she will make history as the first athlete from Saint Lucia to achieve this Olympic milestone. Saint Lucia is represented by four athletes at the Paris Olympics 2024, with the nation’s eyes fixed on Alfred’s remarkable journey. The other three athletes are Michael Joseph in the Men’s 400m, Luc Chevrier in Men’s Laser Radial, and Jayhan Odlum Smith, who competed in the Men’s 100m freestyle but was eliminated in the early stages.
There will be a watch party at the Derek Walcott Square and other locations across the country for Saint Lucians to cheer Alfred on her Olympic journey.