Julien Alfred’s historic victory at the Paris Olympics last Saturday afternoon is nothing short of monumental. Not only did she become the first athlete from Saint Lucia to win an Olympic medal in any sport, but she also secured a gold medal. The 100 meters race, often referred to as the “blue riband” event of the Olympics, draws immense global attention, making her achievement even more remarkable and impactful.
As Ms. Alfred stood on the podium, draped in her country’s flag, with the national anthem echoing through the stadium, the world got to know Saint Lucia. Her victory wasn’t just personal; it was a triumph for the entire nation. For a country with a population of less than 200,000, worn down by crime and torn by political division, Alfred’s win couldn’t have come at a better time. It rekindled a national pride among Saint Lucians and reinforced the idea that success can be achieved through discipline, commitment, hard work, and courage.
Alfred’s historic moment should inspire other Saint Lucians to aim high and realise that they too can compete on the world stage. Her journey to the top was undoubtedly challenging, but she remained focused on winning, a motivation that serves as a beacon of hope for the entire nation.
The same can be said for Dominica, our sister island with a population of less than 80,000. It was revealed that moments after Alfred’s dominance on the tracks, Thea Lafond from the Nature Isle won the triple jump (Gold) at 49 feet, 3 1/2 inches.
“It is unbelievable how these tiny islands are cranking out such high-quality athletes. I’m so grateful for Julien, because I saw her get that gold indoor and I was like, ‘I’m getting a gold, too.’ I saw her get that gold (tonight) and I was like, ‘well, I’m getting my gold, too.’ Maybe it’s copying, maybe it’s twinning. Whatever it is, we’re making history for our islands. Now we can bring hardware that will last forever. Records come and go. Olympic medals are forever. Look at the Caribbean, look at these tiny islands, look at how amazing we are and feel the National pride.
“To be from a small place, Dominica, St. Lucia and to be on a global stage right now and just putting our countries on the map means a lot,” the Los Angeles Daily News quoted LaFond as saying.
The achievements of these two islanders last Saturday at the Olympics will certainly have a positive impact on their respective nations. As Ms. Alfred so succinctly told the Los Angeles Daily News: “People are always asking me where is Saint Lucia? Now being Olympic champion, a lot of people are going to be looking for Saint Lucia.”
We have no doubt that this may very well be true for both Saint Lucia and Dominica. The two ladies’ high-profile wins will certainly boost their country’s marketing and promotion efforts in the world and elevate their countries’ global profile. Alfred’s achievement, however, is of particular note as the 100 metres track event in the Olympics is considered, as noted earlier, the crème de la crème of the Olympics Games, meaning it will be the most talked about Olympic win in media circles around the world.
How Saint Lucia harnesses this massive free promotion, how it handles itself now that it is on the world stage, and the world is taking notice, is left to be seen.
One thing we do know is that if a country is looking for world recognition on a stage, there is no better stage to do that than the one the Olympic Games offer.
Thank you, Julien Alfred, from a grateful Nation,
P.S. This editorial was written prior to Alfred’s appearance at the 200 metres in Paris on Tuesday afternoon and so could not elaborate on that event.