The 23-year-old Julien Alfred created history for Saint Lucia as she clinched the first Olympic medal for her country. The youngster stunned in the women’s 100m race at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the gold medal.
The 24-year-old American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, the reigning World Champion, was the favourite for the women’s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, in the final race, Julien Alfred stunned the world with her incredible performance.
Julien Alfred set a national record to claim Saint Lucia’s first Olympic medal
Alfred clocked 10.72 seconds to set a new national record and claim the gold medal. It was the first Olympic medal for Saint Lucia. Surely, it was a special day for her and her nation.
After winning the historic gold medal, Alfred opened up about her struggle. She hopes for a new start for her country with the gold medal success.
Alfred said according to Olympics.com, “Growing up, I used to be on the field struggling, with no shoes, running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place. We barely have the right facilities. The stadium is not fixed. I hope this gold medal will help Saint Lucia build a new stadium, to help the sport grow.”
America shined with two medals
Meanwhile, America secured two other medals in the women’s 100m race at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sha'Carri Richardson finished the race in 10.87 seconds to secure the silver medal, while her fellow native Melissa Jefferson clinched the bronze medal by finishing the race in 10.92 seconds.
Great Britain’s Daryll Neita ended in fourth place (10.96s), while another American Twanisha Terry finished in fifth place (10.97s).
No women’s 100m medal for Jamaica: First time in the Olympics since 1992
In the women’s 100m final, Tia Clayton was the lone racer from Jamaica. She finished in seventh place in the eight-person race by clocking 11.04 seconds.
Jamaica won the last four women’s 100m gold medals in the Summer Olympics, while the country secured all three medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Paris 2024 Olympics became the first time since Barcelona 1992 when Jamaica failed to win one medal in the women’s 100m event at a Summer Olympics. Previously, in Seoul 1988, Jamaica failed to win any medals in the women’s 100m event.
