Julien Alfred was honoured in true hero’s fashion at her alma mater Thursday. The world-class athlete and Olympian’s likeness is now etched on the walls of Ciceron R.C. Combined, where she began her athletic journey just over a decade ago.
Alfred, who returned to Saint Lucia on Tuesday after striking gold at the Diamond League Finals in Brussels, and the Paris Olympics where she won a gold and silver medal, the first ever for Saint Lucia, now has three images plastered on the school’s walls.
Designed by Naja Simeon who is known for his vibrant artistic pieces, the centrepiece, a mural that covers a 40-foot wall outside Ciceron R.C. Combined, is “larger than life” itself, according to the designer.
And that’s because Julien perfectly embodies that description, the artist explained.
Simeon brings the athlete’s image to life in a majestic way.
Noting that “she is a giant in the world of sports and for the people of Saint Lucia, my representation of Julien stomping over the pitons, literally walking on water, couldn’t even explain how proud I am (of her) or how proud the whole of Saint Lucia is when it comes to what Julien has done.”
“I would like to thank Dr Hilaire for giving me this opportunity to do such a monumental mural in such a quick time. When you get these opportunities, you don’t even ask do I have enough time,” Simeon said.
Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire explained that residents (many of whom grew right alongside Julien, or saw her whilst she blossomed), warned the artist “to get it right and do it properly.”
“It is a statement that the community wants the best for Julien (because) she belongs to them so that mural had to be the best there is. In addition to that he also produced two smaller ones (and) as you enter the school every child on their left or their right will see a representation of Julien. He did a phenomenal job in just about two weeks,” the minister said proudly.
When the centrepiece was finally revealed, (the other two were left uncovered for individuals to see), attendees and residents screamed and cheered collectively – including the track star herself.
Ciceron R.C. Combined, by all accounts, did justice to Julien. The tributes poured in and Julien was overcome with emotion throughout the ceremony.
And her tears flowed, not just because of how wonderful the tributes were and how good it felt to be back at home, but because a key figure was missing.
Her Physical Education (P.E.) teacher (now deceased) “played a great role in my life” and, she said, she was grateful “that God allowed us to cross paths.”
“I stood there over a decade ago dreaming of what I wanted my life to be like. I wanted to be the next Usain Bolt not knowing what it would take to be just like my idol; and the sacrifices needed to get there, but I had a dream. We do not get to this point without a support system. It truly takes a village (and) at a very tender age I had the support of my primary school teachers and the principal of the Ciceron R.C. Combined School whether it was through education or sports, I was surrounded by a group of teachers who ensured that I stayed on track,” Julien told the audience.
And despite the many hurdles that she faced on her journey, she did just that. Ciceron R.C. Combined, in return, rolled out the red carpet for their star athlete.
One who was raised right there in the community, who ran against the boys when she first started and found strength in her coach and mentors when she lost her father at an early age.
Julien’s breakthrough finally came during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. From there on, she continued to soar.