“I’d love to be the first,” said Julien Alfred as she spoke about the exciting possibility of becoming the first person from the tiny Caribbean island of St. Lucia to win an Olympic medal. On Saturday, she achieved that monumental goal in style by winning the women’s 100 metres event in Paris, firmly placing her name in the history books. This impressive victory was cultivated amidst a challenging background and was celebrated in front of an electric crowd of 69,000 spectators, a turnout that is just 110,000 less than the total population of St. Lucia.
However, reaching the summit of success was not an easy journey for the 23-year-old, who is a committed and devout Christian. Her victory was shadowed by significant personal tragedies that shaped her life and career. Tragically, at the tender age of 12, she endured the loss of her father, Julian Hamilton, whose passing left a profound impact on her young life.
Five years later, just as she was preparing to compete in the Youth Olympic Games where she ultimately won a silver medal in the 100 metres in Buenos Aires in 2018, she faced another devastating loss with the death of her aunt, Karen Alfred, who had played a crucial role in raising her and supporting her athletic ambitions. Reflecting on her aunt’s passing, Julien remarked, “I’m sure he would have wished for me to get this medal and be here for this moment,” highlighting the emotional weight of her success. That silver medal was pivotal, marking a turning point in her life and career and providing her with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
“I think that was the beginning of something great,” she reflected in an interview with Olympics.com. Julien recognized that event as an influential moment that steered her toward making important decisions regarding her education and athletic future. “It influenced my choices in going to college, as well, so I think it was a really good experience for me,” she explained, underlining the significant effect that achievement had on her trajectory.
The journey to that momentous race in Buenos Aires was not without its hurdles. After the traumatic event of losing her father, Julien was so shaken that she temporarily stepped away from athletics, needing to regroup and reassess her priorities. At just 14 years old, she made the life-altering decision to leave her family behind and pursue her education in Jamaica, the country that is famously known as the home of her idol, Usain Bolt, whom she admired greatly. This significant move was fraught with challenges for the young girl, as she had to grapple with being away from her immediate support system. “I did have tough times when I was 14,” she recalled earlier this week, reflecting on the trials of her adolescent years.
Despite those challenges, Julien recognized that the opportunity to study in Jamaica was a rare and valuable one, so she embraced it wholeheartedly. “I got an opportunity to go to Jamaica. So I think getting the opportunity to go to a place where Usain Bolt is was ideal and I decided I wanted to be there and my mum gave me the opportunity to go,” she recounted with gratitude. Her mother supported her quest and did not hesitate to say yes, stating simply, “She didn’t say no. She just said to me if you want to go then, okay.”
This pivotal experience undoubtedly hardened the young athlete and hastened her maturation process. “It was tough growing up without my family and friends,” she candidly admitted, exposing the emotional challenges that accompanied her pursuit of excellence.
Julien Alfred, often affectionately referred to by her nickname ‘Juju,’ would not have anticipated at that time how she would blossom into a remarkable talent who would eventually find herself competing on the Olympic stage, the same stage where countless legends, including Bolt, once dazzled audiences around the world.
Under the guidance of Edrick Floreal at the University of Texas, who also successfully coaches reigning European 100m champion Dina Asher-Smith and Irish 400m medal contender Rhasidat Adeleke, she transitioned into an outstanding sprinter. At first, Julien was a shy individual, but she found an ideal mentor in Coach Floreal, someone who could truly understand her and help her unlock her full potential. “He’s been like a dad, a mentor and a coach,” Alfred shared during her conversation with Olympics.com, acknowledging the multi-faceted role he plays in her life.
She expressed her appreciation for his support, emphasizing how vital it has been to have someone who understands the pressures of competing at such a high level. “I think at this level sometimes there can be so much pressure and I really appreciate all that he has done, not just from a coaching standpoint, but also just being a human like I am,” she stated, gathering strength from his understanding. “He’s seen me as a human and not just an athlete,” further illustrating the depth of their connection.
Floreal has been continually impressed by Julien’s ability to adapt as she moved from junior competitions to the senior ranks of athletics. “She’s fantastic,” he remarked, praising her adaptability. “It’s a difficult adjustment that a lot of kids are not able to do; there’s a lot of people pulling at you,” he noted, further emphasizing the challenges that many young athletes face as they strive for success.
Despite the many tough times Julien has faced throughout her life, she has chosen to keep an inspiring saying from the Bible in her Instagram biography as a testament to her resilience. “Present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,” she has posted, a phrase that reflects her enduring spirit.
On Saturday, her glory was shown to the world in an impressive time of 10.72 seconds, stunning her pre-race favourite competitor, Sha’Carri Richardson. Having reached this incredible milestone, there is a palpable sense that even greater achievements are yet to come for the talented Julien Alfred.
